“For the record: it is true that Julian raced this spring with a fracture in his fibula" - Patrick Lefevere denies team pressure forced Alaphilippe to keep riding

After Julian Alaphilippe recently revealed he'd been racing this Spring despite a fracture in his fibula, many were quick to point the finger at Patrick Lefevere, given his consistent public criticism of the Frenchman. In his column for Het Nieuwsblad however, the Soudal - Quick-Step boss has denied this claim.

“For the record: it is true that Julian raced this spring with a fracture in his fibula,” Lefevere begins his report of the incident. “He suffered that in a fall in Strade Bianche. After Milano-Sanremo he complained of mild pain. We did indeed see the fracture on an ultrasound. Minuscule, but clearly noticeable. After consultation, it was decided to continue in the spring.”

Rather than the team or Lefevere himself pressuring Alaphilippe to continue however, the team boss insists it was the two-time former world champion himself that had the final say. "The outside world interpreted that as 'under pressure from the team,'" Lefevere recalls. "It is true that it would have been a great disappointment to lose Julian at a crucial moment, but of course he himself had the last word. Julian had raced for seven days in Tirreno-Adriatico with that injury. And in Milano-Sanremo, he sprinted for victory without a puncture. Julian was fit enough to be competitive and couldn't make the injury worse either."

One of the reasons, Alaphilippe continuing was key however, was the disappointing Spring Classics campaign Soudal - Quick-Step suffered this year. So unhappy was Lefevere with the performances of his riders, he called an emergency team meeting to discuss the lack of positive results.

"Technical manager Nicolas Coosemans also attended the meeting. I learned from him that our frames weigh 200 grams lighter than last year. The wheels are 140 grams lighter. That should normally mean performance gains," Lefevere explains. "Of course we talked at length about tyres. But as I indicated earlier: I don't think that's where the clapper hangs for us. All the teams ride tubeless these days, except two if I am well informed. Our type of tyres is the same as BORA-hansgrohe. And I am very curious to know whether Lotte Kopecky and SD Worx have also won Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix with these."