In 2021, Julian Alaphilippe had to abandon the Tour de Suisse, his only participation, due to the birth of his son. Four years later, despite a less than stellar start to the season with his new team Tudor Pro Cycling, the French rider returned to the Swiss race with a clear goal: to take a stage win in the last test before the team's debut at the Tour de France in July.

' I'm super motivated ,' he told l'Equipe before the start. ' I can't wait to race, it's an important race for the team. It's the last big test before the Tour de France, the final stage of preparation, but it's a race where I want to feel good. I've been working hard to get close to my best condition, so it's an important week .'

After a training camp in the Sierra Nevada, the 33-year-old tested his legs on the chaotic and wet first stage, when he followed a move by Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-AlUla) after a series of attacks, creating a two-man breakaway on the first climb of the Michaelskreuzstrasse.

The duo continued to work together as a large chasing group formed behind them. When they were caught, a group of about 30 riders had formed. Despite being the only one from his team in the leading group, Alaphilippe managed to take two second places in the Tissot intermediate sprints, collecting valuable bonus seconds.

In the wet finale, he was unable to respond to the acceleration of Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), who went on to win alone. Alaphilippe had to settle for fourth place , also beaten by Kevin Vauquelin and Bart Lemmen in the sprint for the podium.

' I didn't win today but I really gave it my all, no regrets and I think it's a good start to the week ,' commented the Frenchman. ' We knew a stage like this could be chaotic, so it was better to stay at the front. Congratulations to Romain for the win .'