"I've detached myself from it. I don't care" - Julian Alaphilippe attempting to rise above Patrick Lefevere's public criticism

Julian Alaphilippe continues what looks like his final year at Soudal - Quick-Step this Easter Sunday at the Tour of Flanders. The reason it's probably his last year at the team? The constant public criticism from his boss, Patrick Lefevere.

As Alaphilippe has searched for the kind of form that saw him win back-to-back World Championship titles in 2020 and 2021 over the last couple of seasons, Lefevere has grown increasingly discontent with his star's performances, using his column for Het Nieuwsblad as an outlet to publically vent his frustrations. Earlier this year, going so far as to criticise Alaphilippe's social life.

“I really managed to detach myself from it as much as possible, like I often do," Alaphilippe said of the situation to RMC ahead of the Tour of Flanders. “I was more annoyed about Marion (Alaphilippe's partner ed.), who didn't ask for this and who doesn't like being involved at all. She didn't like being involved in things like that, which were pointless and made no sense. Some things are supposed to be personal, and it's a bit annoying when it keeps coming out. But for me, no, I've detached myself from it. I don't care, in fact."

“The only thing I can do is do my job well, and I’ve been doing it very well, as well as I can, for many years. So long as I feel like that, I don't care about the rest," the Frenchman concludes. "What matters to me is that my son is in good health and that I do my job to the best of my ability.”