"He could be our new Peter Sagan" - TotalEnergies keen to offer Julian Alaphilippe safe-haven

Not for the first time in recent years, Julian Alaphilippe was the subject of Soudal - Quick-Step boss, Patrick Lefevere's very public verbal outcry last week. With the Frenchman in the last year of his contract, a move away seems more likely than ever.

Hoping to be top of the list if any such move were to happen are TotalEnergies. The French team have long admired the former two-time World Champion and make no secret of their intent to offer Alaphilippe a safe-haven from Lefevere's outspoken criticisms.

“Of course. Julian Alaphilippe has his place with us,” TotalEnergies manager Jean-René Bernaudeau tells L'Equipe. “He knows that he could be our new Peter Sagan, especially with the arrival of a new wave of talented young riders with us. He would have this position of leader, because he is an example for many kids.”

Although Sagan didn't bring success on the road to the team that many would have hoped, his spell was by no means a disaster Bernaudeau insists. “Sagan is an exceptional guy who brought us a lot with his experience and his mentality. He brought us a pride that we perhaps lacked,” he explains. “He came by paying a large part of his salary himself and will leave an indelible mark in our history. We understood with him that we could grow. Like with Niki Terpstra and Edvald Boasson. But today we would like to refocus on the French.”