On July 17, 2018, the Tour de France left the rolling hills behind and entered the high Alps with Stage 10, a grueling 158.5 km ride from Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand. It was a day built for climbers, breakaway artists, and those with the courage to attack early and hold their nerve — and it was the day Julian Alaphilippe announced himself as a Tour de France star.
A profile made for chaos
Stage 10 featured five categorized climbs, including the Col de la Croix Fry, the punishing Montée des Glières with its gravel section, and a brutal duo to close: the Col de Romme followed by the Col de la Colombière. With more than 4,000 meters of elevation gain, it was the first true mountain stage of the race.
Into the break
From the start, Alaphilippe made his intentions clear by joining the day’s major breakaway. Known more for his punchy attacks on short climbs than for high-mountain efforts, he surprised many by committing fully to a stage that favored pure climbers. But it wasn’t long before he began asserting himself — cresting the Col de la Croix Fry first and collecting valuable King of the Mountains points.
Gravel and grit
On the Montée des Glières, Alaphilippe surged ahead again, powering through the steep gradients and the challenging gravel section near the summit. While others struggled with the terrain, he appeared almost unfazed, showing a blend of agility and aggression rarely seen this deep into a Tour mountain stage.
The solo assault
It was on the Col de Romme that Alaphilippe launched his decisive move. Leaving his breakaway companions behind, he surged solo toward the final climb. By the time he reached the summit of the Col de la Colombière, the Frenchman had a commanding lead — and had collected the maximum KOM points from four of the five climbs.
Victory on Le Grand-Bornand
The descent into Le Grand-Bornand was Alaphilippe’s final test. Known for his daring descending skills, he flew down the mountain with control and flair, never taking unnecessary risks. He crossed the line alone, arms outstretched, over a minute ahead of his nearest rivals.
A new hero for France
The win was Julian Alaphilippe’s first-ever Tour de France stage victory, and it came with a bonus: the polka dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification. Emotional and exhausted, he called the moment "a dream come true" — and for French fans, it marked the arrival of a new national hero.
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From the temporary distance of almost a decade, the years between 2017 and 2019 seem to be kind of a transitional period, a more raw, also, a bit romantic era before The New Golden Age of Road Cycling and Juliaj Alaphilippe, although stil active, seemes to be one of the key figures of these transitional years.
