"He impresses more now than when he won ten races a year" - Marion Rousse on partner Julian Alaphilippe

Julian Alaphilippe has found the last couple of years much more hard going than he had been accustomed to. His partner and number one fan, Marion Rousse however believes the Frenchman will soon return to his race-winning best.

"Julian is fine, but fate is hounding him," Rousse reveals in an interview with Cyclism'Actu. "Personally, he impresses me with his strength of character. I think a lot of people would have been disillusioned by now, but he remains serious and focused. He impresses more now than when he won ten races a year."

Rousse a former French national road race champion in her own right is also the director of the Tour de France Femmes. Turning a focus to Alaphilippe's hopes for this year's Tour de France, Rousse believes the Soudal - Quick-Step star will be back to full fitness at back to top form by the summer.

"He is already very focused on the Tour de France, he has already planned stage reconnaissance. He is really revengeful and he has a very big desire to do well, especially since he missed the Tour last year," she explains. "He has good hopes of being at the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but he knows he won't be 100%. That's what's a bit hard too because he can't manage to be 100 % on each of the objectives."