"If he is selected, he will be ready" - Julian Alaphilippe's preparation for Olympic Games are in full swing

Franck Alaphilippe, the cousin and personal coach of Julian Alaphilippe spoke about the start of Tour de France, marked by two stage victories of Alaphilippe's compatriots, Julian's absence and Olympic Games in Paris.

After a strong Giro d'Italia, Julian Alaphilippe opted to not race Tour de France despite Soudal - Quick-Step leader Remco Evenepoel personally persuading the Frenchman to give him a helping hand in his quest for Maillot Jaune.

Last week, the two-time world champion appeared at the Tour of Slovakia where he finished second overall and won a stage. "It's not going too badly," Franck tells Cyclism'Actu about Julian's current form. "He made the choice not to do the Tour, so he's in full training now. He had already shown at the Giro that his form was on the rise, and he reconfirmed it last week in Slovakia. So it's going pretty well for him."

One of the reasons to skip Tour de France was to ideally prepare for Olympic Games. However the nomination will be only confirmed next Monday. And so the Frenchman is kept a bit in the dark. "Indeed, Julian is waiting to know. If he is selected for the Olympics by Thomas Voeckler, he will be ready. And if he doesn't make it, well he is training for the rest of the season."

French fans must have been enjoying the start of the Tour with stage wins for Romain Bardet and Kévin Vauquelin in opening weekend. But it could've been even bigger party with Alaphilippe around. "Of course he is missing," Franck is convinced that Julian's presence would've been a massive boost of morale. "The French love him. Those who follow cycling closely know and love his attacking side. Now, there are already two French victories, so we can't have everything. But it's true that Julian is missing."