Nimes, France. 22nd July 2019.
1. 00:00 Julian Alaphilippe enters news conference
2. 00:07 Wide of news conference
3. 00:15 SOUNDBITE (English): Julian Alaphilippe, Quick-Step rider:
(About how he will change his approach to preserve his lead in the yellow jersey)
"For sure, it is really a big honour to be in yellow during the Tour. So we have changed the plan and we defend it. I give everything every day, like you see. I don't go in a breakaway now. I ride like the leader of the Tour de France, so I don't know what will happen over the next days, but for sure I will continue to defend the jersey. My team also, like yesterday (Sunday), they did a really great job again and I am looking forward to starting the last week."
4. 01:01 SOUNDBITE (French): Julian Alaphilippe, Quick-Step rider:
(About the difficult stages which lie ahead in the Alps)
"The more we move closer to Paris, the more my feeling is different and special. I am realistic about the fact that there are only difficult stages ahead. I already knew this situation before. I did not stop saying that the hardest was still to come. It started at the Tourmalet where I really surprised myself. Yesterday (Sunday), we saw that it was a very difficult stage too. It will be hard until the end. I don't want to dream but I'm sure I'll do my best."
5. 01:36 SOUNDBITE (French): Julian Alaphilippe, Quick-Step rider:
(About how his lead remains a precarious one ahead of the final week of racing)
"One minute and 30 seconds advantage is a lot and, at the same time, nothing considering the next few stages. It is possible to have a failure and lose so much time in a (mountain) pass of 15, 20 per cent or even more, because the stage of Val Thorens is such a difficult climb to the summit. When you look at the profile of the next stages, a lead of one minute 30 seconds is almost nothing."
6. 02:01 SOUNDBITE (French): Julian Alaphilippe, Quick-Step rider:
(About another Frenchman, Thibaut Pinot, and his approach in the mountains)
"Thibaut Pinot showed over the last few days that he is in exceptional form in the mountains. He can count on a very strong team (Groupama) around him. So I think he will continue to attack and ride in that way to make a difference. It is in his interest to do that."