Tour de la Provence on SBS screens with Alaphilippe leading the field

Reigning world champion on the road, Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl) will begin his 2022 season at Tour de la Provence.

Julian Alaphilippe and the QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl squad at pre-season training Source: QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl

SBS is the place to watch the Tour de la Provence, with live streaming on SBS On Demand nightly and catch-up replays and highlights available the next day.

The Tour de la Provence gets underway with a prologue time trial in Berre-l’Étang on Thursday and Alaphilippe will first don the rainbow jersey in competition for the first time in 2022 on the Stage 1 road stage the next day to Saintes Maries de la Mer. The race will conclude next Sunday with a summit finish at Montagne de Lure.

Alaphilippe finished second overall behind Ivan Sosa at last year’s Tour de la Provence, attacking throughout the race in an entertaining hit out.

2021 Tour of Flanders winner Asgreen was set to reinforce the cobbled classics specialists theme of the team as he begins his build-up to the Classics. Unfortunately, the Dane contracted COVID, and will not start the race. Dries Devenyns, Pieter Serry and new signings Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Vervaecke complete the QuickStep-AlphaVinyl team in Provence.

"It’s the first time in three years that the race starts with a time trial, and it should be something for Kasper, Ilan, and maybe Julian, they have a chance of getting a nice result there," said directeur sportif Geert Van Bondt.

"The next two stages should have the sprinters and the puncheurs respectively in the spotlight, but the wind in the region could play an important role, so we’ll see how things will go there. The last day is the hardest one, and that’s where the general classification will be decided. It will be good to see where our riders are at this point in the season."

Giro d'Italia winner Richard Carapaz will also start his season in the southern France race, after a pre-season training crash hampered preparations.

Australian Michael Storer will make his debut with Groupama-FDJ, while Chris Hamilton (Team DSM) and Taj Jones (Israel Start-Up Nation) will also compete. Ivan Sosa will look to defend his title with new squad Movistar, after transferring from INEOS Grenadiers in the off-season.

Previously, Alaphilippe has used the Tour de la Provence as a warm-up for the early season classics, but the two-time world champion will not race many of the cobbled Classics this season, preferring to focus on the Ardennes.

Alaphilippe is on the startlist for the Faun-Ardèche Classic before he moves on to Italy to race at Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo. Alaphilippe is also expected to line up at Itzulia Basque Country ahead of Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Amstel Gold Race.

SBS is the place to watch the Tour de la Provence, with live streaming on SBS On Demand nightly and catch-up replays and highlights available the next day.

 

Tour de la Provence Prologue - February 10

2420-0250 (AEDT, starts just after midnight)

Live streaming on SBS On Demand

 

Tour de la Provence Stage 1 - February 11

2315-0215 (AEDT)

Live streaming on SBS On Demand

 

Tour de la Provence Stage 2 - February 12

2345-0245 (AEDT)

Live streaming on SBS On Demand

 

Tour de la Provence Stage 3 - February 13

2330-0230 (AEDT)

Live streaming on SBS On Demand