Will Julian Alaphilippe be at the start of the Tour de France from the city of Florence (Italy) this year? The runner himself confided at the end of March that this prospect did not enchant him. Not because he doesn’t like the Grande Boucle but because he feared that the Tour of Italy-Tour de France sequence would be too much to digest.
But the situation seems to have changed this week within the Souda-Quick Step team. L’Équipe reveals that the Frenchman is included in the pre-selection of riders for the Tour de France, with eleven other teammates.
Alaphilippe’s victory in the twelfth stage of the Tour of Italy confirmed that the two-time track cycling world champion currently has good legs. Moreover, Patrick Lefévère had conditioned the selection of the rider for the Grande Boucle several months ago on a good performance at the Tour of Italy. On this point, the native of Saint-Amand-Montrond responded.
But there is undoubtedly more important. Remco Evenepoel, who will be taking part in the most prestigious cycling event for the first time, seems to be counting on the Tricolore (31 years old) to support him this summer. Julian Alaphilippe could be an extremely valuable lieutenant as the Belgian discovers the roads of the Tour.
“It was a very, very big number,” congratulated the Belgian about Alaphilippe’s victory this week. “He had the best legs at the right time. He deserved this victory, he’s a really good guy, who knows very well what he wants and what he can,” added to RTBF the one he is sometimes nicknamed the “Little Canibale” and who maintains excellent relations with the Frenchman.
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