France keeps celebrating with Tour stage win

France has a new cycling star.

Two days after the country’s soccer players won the World Cup, Julian Alaphilippe became the first French winner of a stage at this year’s Tour de France on Tuesday.

Fueled by previous disappointments and thoughts of his ill father watching on TV, Alaphilippe timed his break perfectly and powered to victory on the first day in the mountains, crossing the line alone, and finishing well ahead of his rivals for his first Tour win.

“I imagined winning it because it was a huge objective for me, but to win it like that, all alone ...,” Alaphilippe said.

“I don’t know how many kilometers I was alone - phew, it was a bit risky but I tried to up the pace and I really profited.”

He finished 1 minute, 34 seconds ahead of Jon Izagirre Insausti, 1:40 ahead of Rein Taaramae, and 1:44 in front of overall leader Greg Van Avermaet.

Taaramae was leading when Alaphilippe attacked going up the category-one Col de Romme, and the Estonian rider was unable to find a response. Alaphilippe increased his lead over the Col de la Colombiere before zooming down the final finish.

“I was really happy that the last kilometer was downhill,” Alaphilippe joked after giving the Quick Step team its third win from 10 stages. “A rare and special moment.” /

AP FOTO I’ve had plenty of frustrations. But they are things that make you stronger. The emotion I had today was not because of the frustrations but because of the pain. Because I really wanted this victory JULIAN ALAPHILIPPEKING OF THE MOUNTAIN. After having gone through several defeats and disappointments, Julian Alaphilippe finally snatched a stage win in Tour de France after conquering the race’s mountain stage.