Brioude (France) (AFP)
At the top of the Tour de France after nine stages, Julian Alaphilippe believes he has "already given a lot" and refuses to think about the overall classification even if he wants to keep the yellow jersey "as far as possible".
Q: Are you starting to think about the overall standings?
A: "I did a lot of reconnaissance, I know that the hardest thing is yet to come, with high mountain stages and a lot of altitude." My ambitions for the general classification did not exist before the start. not fallen from the sky because I have the yellow jersey It's true, we can dream a little while thinking that I can keep it as far as possible.I will try to push my limits, to continue running for the jersey day after day, to make beautiful steps in the mountains, to achieve a good time, the day I feel that it does not go, I get up, I try to do what I did last year by making me happy in the breakaways I had a big first part of Tour, I already gave a lot compared to the other leaders of the general classification. "
Q: What is the riskiest stage for you, between the Pau time trial (Friday) and the Tourmalet (Saturday)?
A: "The Tourmalet with the altitude, it's going to be terrible, the classification is going to change a lot I think, on the time trial, I can surprise myself and do better than limit the breakage, surely not win but, if I surpasses me, I can do a good time, that's what I did in Dauphiné and my form is even better now.In Tourmalet, I do not know what to expect, I can be limited if I do a real fight with the leaders of the general classification, but I know it will be decisive for the future. "
Q: Do you feel tired compared to favorites?
A: "I really think I've done a lot more effort than the leaders of the overall standings in the first week, and when you're looking at the overall standings, you really have to run to the millimeter, almost counting your pedal strokes. all that I have done so far, we know that the altitude will play a lot, a rider like Nairo Quintana is always very good when there are arrivals at altitude, there will be no surprise. "
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