The cycling world was thrown into turmoil late Sunday night when Marion Rousse — partner and manager of French superstar Julian Alaphilippe — broke down in tears during a live interview, fiercely defending him against doping allegations that emerged just hours after the UCI Road World Championships 2025 concluded in Kigali.
“Julian deserves to stand on that podium,” Rousse cried, her voice trembling. “Not those who use dirty tricks to steal glory from real champions!” Her outburst came amid a firestorm of accusations, after reports suggested that post-race blood tests from several riders had shown “irregular markers.” Although no names were officially released, whispers began circulating that Alaphilippe was among those under review — a rumor that ignited outrage across France.
But the situation escalated dramatically when Rousse, visibly shaking, pulled out what she called “undeniable proof” — a secret audio recording allegedly captured inside a rival team’s locker room. In the clip, voices can be heard discussing “substances,” “timing of doses,” and “keeping it quiet before UCI testing.” Within minutes, social media exploded with speculation about the identities of those involved.
French network L’Équipe confirmed that the UCI has launched an emergency investigation after Rousse’s statement went viral, forcing event organizers into an emergency meeting to assess the fallout. One insider described the atmosphere as “pure chaos.”
“Marion’s decision to release that recording caught everyone off guard,” an anonymous member of the French cycling federation told reporters. “It’s not just about defending Julian anymore — this could expose a much larger scandal that reaches far beyond one team.”
Meanwhile, support for Rousse and Alaphilippe has poured in from fellow riders and fans. Former world champion Peter Sagan posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Julian is one of the purest competitors I’ve ever known. If there’s injustice here, the sport must face it.”
However, not everyone is convinced. Several unnamed team managers have accused Rousse of “orchestrating drama to distract from test results,” suggesting that the timing of her revelation was “suspiciously convenient.”
Regardless of the motives, one thing is clear — this controversy has torn open old wounds within professional cycling. The sport, which has struggled for decades to shed its reputation for doping scandals, once again finds itself under scrutiny.
As of Monday morning, the UCI has not confirmed whether the recording will be used as official evidence. But insiders claim that independent labs have already begun reanalyzing samples from the final stage in Kigali.
