"If you lose months in your career, you will notice it in the races" - Quick-Step DS Bramati still hopeful of Julian Alaphilippe's return to the top

Julian Alaphilippe has had a difficult 2022 and 2023 is not being too different. Within Soudal - Quick-Step there is still the belief that the Frenchman will return to his best level after several injuries and illnesses prevented him from training properly for many months.

"Julian has had a lot of bad luck, it was not easy to continue after that crash in Liège. If you lose months in your career, you will notice it in the races," team DS Davide Bramati told TuttoBiciWeb. "He lacks a basis of solidity and steadfastness, compared to previous years. But he is a boy who has won a lot and I expect him to win again."

The endurance has notably been a problem for the Frenchman this year. Whilst he's taken motivating wins at the Faun-Ardèche Classic and the Criterium du Dauphiné, he's struggled on the most meaningful goals. He was far from expectations in the spring classics, and at the Tour de France he was very active but often burning himself very early on in the stages, to then blow up when the fight for the victories began. However at the Clásica San Sebastián and World Championships where he'd be a contender, he abandoned in both - the latter once again after attacking very early on.

"In the Tour we saw Julian trying every day, but the level was very high. If you lose a week during this time, it will seem like you are a month behind," Bramati argues. The Frenchman has a contract until 2024 and the Italian is keen on seeing the former World Champion back in contention for the biggest races in the world: "I am convinced he will come back. He has now had a season without a hitch and can lay the foundations next winter. Then you'll see next year."