"I am optimistic and I hope to be present on the Tour de France" - Julian Alaphilippe

Just over a month after his traumatizing crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Julian Alaphilippe is back to training on the road with his teammates as he hopes to be a part of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team's lineup for the Tour de France.

“I am optimistic and I hope to be present on the Tour de France, even if it is too early to tell," the World champion said in an interview with France 2 recently. He's currently training in Sierra Nevada together with several riders who are preparing for the Grand Boucle including Fabio Jakobsen.

He's talked about the recovery from his injuries, in which he detailed: “It’s better, it’s been a few weeks quite complicated but I had no choice. It’s better, it’s been a few weeks quite complicated but I had no choice. The first important point was the recovery from the pneumothorax. The doctors were surprised that it healed quickly enough."

"Fractures, it hurts a little longer, it needs time for it to consolidate," he added. This comes as a positive outlook, as he is back at the road five weeks before the start of the race. Patrick Lefevere has already hinted that the World champion may not be at top shape in Copenhagen but may take to the start and build his form throughout the three weeks.

Alaphilippe is having very similar mindset: “I may not be 100% at the start of the Tour, with the condition that I would have had with perfect preparation, but it will already be a great thing to be there. It’s always magical to participate in the Tour with the jersey of world champion. It’s my motivation every day in training, even if I don’t want to skip the stages," he concluded.