It was an epic battle. Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe of France's Soudal Quick-Step versus Marc Hirschi, the UAE Team Emirates' Swiss rider boasting the U23 world title, sparred against each other for victory in the final act of the Czech Tour 2024. The duel was dominated by the French musketeer. However, the fighter from the land of chocolate did not have to mourn as he celebrated the overall victory. A few days later, the stars of the peloton repeated the duel during the San Sebastian classic. The scenario was reminiscent of the absolute sum of Šternberk. The Swiss triumphed. It was the second to last time these two legends would face each other...
Both cyclists, who have also competed in the past at the U23 Peace Race, are coming to the end of their contracts with their current teams. Marc Hirschi has decided to return "home" after four seasons with the UAE Emirates Sheikhs. He will be donning the jersey of the Tudor Pro formation, which, although not licensed by the UCI WorldTeams, the Swiss squad took part in this year's Italian Giro on the wild card and next year has the promise of starting not only under the Apennines but also at the Tour de France. Backed by watchmaking giant and former world champion Fabian Cancellara as sporting director, Tudor wants to rise among the absolute elite. And Marc Hirschi is set to be one of the trump cards, ideally seeing the transformation from a second-tier team to a stable belonging to the absolute elite, having signed a three-year contract.
The other trump should be the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, whose contract with Soudal Quick-Step, where he spent eleven years, expires at the end of the season. The Belgian formation manager Patrick Lefevere came into sharp conflict with the double world champion and his wife during the season, claiming that the French cyclist was too fond of parties and subject to the opinions of his wife, who is by the way director of Tour de France Femmes.
Thirty-two-year-old Julian Alaphilippe is set to regain a leadership position at Tudor that he was losing at his previous employer despite all the successes at the expense of the popularity enjoyed by Remco Evenepoel, whose fame has moreover rocketed after winning two gold medals at the Paris Olympics. There have been repeated rumours of a rather cockfight-like relationship between the eight years younger rider and the former winner of the polka-dot jersey at Tour de France.
Twenty-five-year-old Hirschi is a classics specialist like Alaphilippe. It would significantly strengthen the Swiss squad, which occupies the 22nd position in the UCI rankings under Matteo Trentin and Arvid de Kleijn. The Swiss desperately need points to slip into the elite. And of course, the announced reinforcements guarantee them in spades.
Petr Kelemen, who has recently presented himself in the jersey of Tudor Pro Cycling at the Czech Tour, would gain star teammates and has extended his contract with the Swiss formation until the end of 2027!
Before the two stars meet in the same jersey, they will very likely have one last duel. It will take place on the home turf of the 2024 Czech Tour champion at the World Championships, which is scheduled to finish in Zurich on September 29.
Foto: Markéta Navrátilová, Lukáš Wagneter
