The Richard Mille watch appears to be a RM 67-02 model, retailing, if you can call it that, at $AU168,000.
Cyclists rarely wear watches, as they are cumbersome, expensive to replace if damaged during a crash and add weight for those watching their marginal gains.
Alaphilippe is sporting one consistently during his recent races and has put up an Instagram post of him receiving the watch back in June.
Richard Mille, the watch designer behind the French brand, has a connection with a number high-profile sport stars including Mark Cavendish, who he apparently gifted a watch off his wrist when meeting the British sprinter in 2016.
That has led to a connection with the Bahrain-Mclaren team, though it is unclear to what extent the relationship extends.
Unless extravagant gifts like these become a regular feature of the peloton, it's unlikely we'll see many more watches on wrists during races.
Handlebar-mounted computers, the most popular brand being Garmin, offer more pertinent information to cyclists, in addition to telling the time.
