Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) is set to make his grand tour debut at the Giro d'Italia in his second professional season after a remarkable first year in 2014.

22-year old Julian Alaphilippe will start his season at the Vuelta a Murcia and hopes to shine in Paris-Nice. According to L'Equipe, the Giro will be his first grand tour for the rider.

In 2014, Alaphilippe took a victory in the Tour l'Ain, and was close to a win in the Volta a Catalunya. He was third in the RideLondon Classic and fifth in the GP Plouay.

The French rider was part of the 12 riders that were gathered be French national coach Bernard Bourreau between 1st and th 5th of December to start the preparation for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. Warren Barguil, Nacer Bouhanni, Jérôme Coppel, Arnaud Démare, Armindo Fonseca, Cyril Gautier, Blel Kadri, Thibaut Pinot, Julien Simon, Arthur Vichot and Alexis Vuillermoz were his companions for the five days in the snow in Maurienne.