Gap (AFP)
Julian Alaphilippe has "bad legs" but has "never been so strong in the head" on the eve of approaching the Alps with the yellow jersey on the back, he assured Wednesday after the a 17th stage run "to the economy".
Q: Did you recover on this hot day?
A: "It was a relatively quiet day, it felt good, we had Kasper (Asgreen) in the breakaway to play the victory, he finished second so it was not bad! We tried to get into economy, to do as little as possible, it was the last day where we could ride like that with a break that was not dangerous.I think I'm tired like the others, I try to recover to the maximum, every minute even almost every second of rest counts, I try to do everything I can to have no regrets, to channel my energy, to be quiet and not to think about what is happening to me. "
Q: Are you excited about being in the mountains?
A: "I am ready to receive the blows on the mountain, fear does not avoid danger, I can not wait and I will give everything, the Alps will be very difficult, it is the triptych at the end of the Tour that will decide on the final winner It was already a dream what I did, I do not have much to do other than give the maximum Physically, my legs hurt like all the racers in the pack but in my head I have never been so strong, but I try to take it upon myself to channel myself, and I tell myself that whatever happens, I will have no regrets. "
Q: Do you feel serene Ineos team, despite a domination less pregnant than in recent years?
A: "Of course they are serene, they have every interest in blowing up the race, they have one of the best teams for the mountain with Jumbo-Visma, everyone knows I do not have the team for the mountain, I have very strong teammates, whom I can count on, but who are not at the level of my rivals.Tomorrow (Thursday) is the hardest step on paper, everyone in my opponents know what they have to do and I know what I have to do. "
Interview in mixed zone and press conference
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