Julian Alaphilippe dons polka dots as 2018 Tour de France mountains king

Julian Alaphilippe is the second straight French cyclist to claim the polka dots. Here’s how Alaphilippe became the Tour de France king of the mountains.

Last year, Warren Barguil became the first Frenchman since Thomas Voeckler in 2012 to claim the polka dot jersey of the mountains classification at the Tour de France. In 2018, Julian Alaphilippe overtook Barguil to claim the title of King of the Mountains.

It was a solid effort by Quick Step’s climbing star, who was freed from sprinting duties to freelance his way to the polka dots. Largely unchallenged by former winners Barguil and Rafal Majka, Alaphilippe was able to take charge of the mountains classification at this year’s Tour de France.

Barguil and Majka finished 79 and 94 points behind the winning total. For Barguil, it was a missed opportunity to successfully defend the title. Majka lost the chance to claim three polka dot jerseys in four years. They never really had a chance, as they were within striking range of the general classification for too long into the mountains.

Alaphilippe, on the other hand, was freed from duties on the flatlands for a Quick Step team that set up Fernando Gaviria for two sprint victories. Instead, he was the team’s designated climber, free to throw punches and try out breakaways whenever the opportunity arose. The Frenchman was masterful in picking his opportunities well, showing himself to be the strongest climber both in the middle of stages and at the end of them.

How the mountains battle unfolded at the 2018 Tour de France

Earlier in the race, the opportunities for mountains points were few and far between. After the ride to Roubaix on Stage 9, Toms Skujins wore the polka dot jersey into the first rest day with six points. Behind him were Sylvain Chavanel and Dion Smith, sitting in a tie for second place with four points apiece.

After the rest day, everything changed immediately as the hierarchy of climbers settled in the high mountains. Alaphilippe parlayed a big day on the first day in the Alps on Stage 10 into the polka dots. The Frenchman took four of the five categorized climbs on the day, including the beyond-category Montée du Plateau des Glières and two first-category climbs in the final 20 miles of racing into Le Grand-Bornand.

In the process, Alaphilippe swept up 41 of a possible 51 points on the day. Once he snatched the lead in the mountains classification, the Frenchman wasn’t about to let go of the polka dot jersey. Donning the distinctive jersey for the first time at the midpoint of the race, Alaphilippe maintained possession of the polka dots for the rest of the race.

Adding a second stage victory a week later, Alaphilippe took 30 out of a possible 37 mountain points along the way to Bagnères-de-Luchon. He was first over the Côte de Pamiers, second behind Philippe Gilbert over the Col de Portet-d’Aspet, and first again cresting the Col de Menté. On the last climb of the day, the first-category Col du Portillon, Alaphilippe came second behind Adam Yates.

It was that sort of consistency that allowed Alaphilippe to snag the polka dot jersey and hold on to it all the way to Paris. It also helped that the Quick Step star was never a threat in the general classification, freeing him to break clear of the yellow jersey crowd in the peloton and freelance his way toward more mountain points. Long before the final mountain stage in the Pyrenees, the mountains classification was effectively determined.

What this could mean going forward for the King of the Mountains

Over the past few decades, French cyclists have put an increased focus on winning the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France. It has been more than three decades since Bernard Hinault was the last Frenchman to win the yellow jersey on home soil. Since Hinault’s 1985 title, Frenchmen have won zero yellow jerseys but 16 of 33 possible polka dot jerseys.

Given that Alaphilippe is just 26 years old, the same age as his compatriot Barguil, there could be a brewing rivalry between the two Frenchmen for the polka dots at the Tour de France for years to come. From 1994 to 2004, 10 of the 11 mountains titles were won by either Richard Virenque, Laurent Jalabert or Christophe Rinero. We could see Barguil and Alaphilippe battling one another and trading off the polka dots for years to come.

Of course, that all depends on the two riders remaining dedicated to competing for mountains points instead of shifting focus to the general classification. If either or both riders decide to maintain focus on their climbing, we could be in for another golden age of French climbing.