Julian Alaphilippe has endured a tough spring, missing out on a result in his main goals once again. With the news emerging over the past days that he's missing most of the Ardennes classics at least and is already thinking of the Tour de France, debate emerges once again over his continuation in Soudal - Quick-Step.
Jan Bakelants said in the Wielerclub Wattage podcast: "Alaphilippe fell ill after the Tirreno and then performed much less well than we expected." Mark Uytterhoeven argued that, despite the ongoing criticism of Patrick Lefevere of his own rider over the winter, that Alaphilippe is in his ideal team already. "If Alaphilippe will be okay somewhere, it will be with Lefevere rather than with any other team. If Alaphilippe were to go to a French team, it would be all over."
Alaphilippe had his 2022 season wrecked by injuries and ilnesses, and although he showed good signs at the beginning of the spring, when it came to the important moments he hasn't reached his best level. A knee injury suffered at the Tour of Flanders was further bad news. The Frenchman has been compared to the likes of Peter Sagan or Greg van Avermaet, former classics stars who have since dialed their ambitions back significantly but have found a home within the French team. There has been talks of a possible move to TotalEnergies despite him having contract until 2024, but within the team it's likely that there aren't too many happy faces after a disappointing spring.
"You are quickly forgotten, but you are also quickly back at the top. If Alaphilippe finds his drive again, he is the perfect candidate to win the difficult opening stage in the Tour and then wear the yellow jersey for 3 days," Bakelants argued. "And maybe Alaphilippe will become world champion for the 3rd time in Glasgow? Everyone is now fixated on the cobbled races, but there are still so many races to win," he concluded, believing that there is still a lot of ground to make up for the modest start to 2023.
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