"He could have won on Willunga if he had waited" - Patrick Lefevere assesses Julian Alaphilippe's early season form

Julian Alaphilippe has entering a key point in his career in 2024. The final year of his Soudal - Quick-Step contract, the Frenchman has even hinted it could be the final year of his professional career.

In his first outing of the season in Australia, Alaphilippe showed some positive signs at the Tour Down Under, finishing 6th overall and placing top-6 in both the final two stages. The boss of Soudal - Quick-Step, Patrick Lefevere, has never been one to keep his opinions to himself, especially when it comes to Alaphilippe, and he has recently assessed the former world champion's early season form.

"Australia at the Tour Down Under was okay, not bad, not great. We saw Julian at the level that we expect from him," Lefevere tells GCN. "He can come back from Australia knowing that he can win. He could have won on Willunga if he had waited a bit more before attacking but he was up there."

Although Lefevere has been a vocal critic of Alaphilippe in the past, he still believes the now 31-year-old can get back to his best. “It’s a big season for him but he promised me that if he had one more winter then he could come back to the level that he’d had before," he concludes. "I’m looking forward to him not having bad luck this year and being at his best at the Tour of Flanders. I still remember the race in 2020, and the incident with the moto. He was the guy who made the break but I’m sure that his talent hasn’t gone.”