Julian Alaphilippe is leaving Soudal-Quick Step, the only WorldTour team he has ever known, for second-division Tudor Pro Cycling. The Swiss team owned by Fabian Cancellara announced on Monday that it had signed the two-time world champ to a three-year deal.
“After more than 10 years with the same team, it was time for a change,” Alaphilippe said in a Tudor press release.
Alaphilippe’s impending departure had recently been confirmed by Soudal team boss Patrick Lefevere, but his destination was uncertain, with rumors earlier in the season linking him to TotalEnergies before more recent chatter emerged about a possible move to Tudor. As it turned out, the latter squad secured his contract.
With the signing of Alaphilippe coming days after Tudor announced its acquisition of Marc Hirschi from UAE Team Emirates, Tudor suddenly looks like a force to be reckoned with in the hillier Classics. A little over a week ago, Hirschi and Alaphilippe went one-two at the Clásica San Sebastián, and both riders have won La Flèche Wallonne and finished highly at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“Having Julian and Marc Hirschi as two leaders is an opportunity,” Cancellara said. “They will take pressure off of each other but also make each other stronger. Julian brings panache, Marc brings coolness. Both can win at the highest level and will embody our racing spirit, which will have us taking on responsibility in some of the biggest races.”
The signings marks another step forward for a Tudor team that jumped up from the Continental level at the start of 2023 and has enjoyed moderate success in their first two seasons in the second division. Earlier this year, Arvid de Kleijn took a stage victory at Paris-Nice and Michael Storer rode to a top 10 at the Giro d’Italia.
Alaphilippe and Hirschi, however, represent a significant increase in the team’s firepower and star power too, and both have enjoyed bounce back seasons in 2024 on the heels of quieter years. Alaphilippe, for his part, won a Giro d’Italia stage in May, his first victory in nearly a year and his first victory in a Grand Tour in three years.
“He still has the fire needed to perform at the highest level and he will bring stability and experience to the team,” Cancellara said. “He is a smart rider but also a good guy, with a good sense of humor, professionalism and a daring attitude.”
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