Julian Alaphilippe has had a breakthrough year. The Frenchman is just 23 but last year he looked good in WorldTour events and won at the Tour de l’Ain. But no one foresaw what was coming in 2015. Always challenging in reduced bunch sprints, Alaphilippe was seventh in Amstel Gold where his teammate won, and second in Fleche and Liege, before going on to win on the steep summit of Mount Baldy at the Tour of California, announcing himself as a rider who can do all things. 

He says he dreams of winning the Worlds, but says he isn’t sure what his role will be in 2015, with Demare, Bouhanni and Gallopin all perhaps given a higher staus than the youngster.

"I'm not sure what my role will be at Worlds yet because our plan has not been discussed, but we have a very strong team with strong leaders and riders," Alaphilippe told Cyclingnews. "We have a good chance to win, whether it's a sprint or a breakaway.”

"My classics period was very good. I was happy. Now this is another race and this is my first World Championship as a professional rider, so I will for sure try to make a result."

While this course does look like it suits a reduced group finish, he knows the last 5km are very tough and may suit a late attack, like it did for compatriot Kevin Ledanois in the U23 race.

"I really like the circuit, I rode it with the French team but the last five kilometres is very hard, otherwise, the rest is through the city with wide roads and a lot of corners. I think it is going to be fast.”

"I really like the final, with the climbs and the narrow roads with cobbles, so it is going to be a really good final for a strong rider. After 260km you never know what might happen.”

But he knows he may not be allowed to try to win the race this year, but it is his big goal to pull on the Rainbow Jersey at one point in his career.

"For sure winning a World title is a dream for everyone," Alaphilippe said. "It is in my head one day to win something like this but you need to believe in this dream all the time, and maybe one year it will be me."