Julian Alaphilippe confirmed to start 2024 season at Tour Down Under - "I remember doing my first race with the team there ten years ago"
Cycling
Back where it all started. In 2014, Julian Alaphilippe's first race with Soudal - Quick-Step was at the Tour Down Under and he has since never returned. That changes now as the Frenchman will begin his 2024 campaign in Australia.
“I’m very happy to start my season in the Tour Down Under," Alaphilippe announced in a press release shared by the Belgian team. "I remember doing my first race with the team there ten years ago, when I was just a neo-pro. I have many nice memories about the race, the incredible fans and the great weather, and I look forward to returning at the start and meeting again our many supporters there."
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Alaphilippe endured another difficult year, the 2023 season was planned out to be one where he'd aim for success in the cobbled classics, Tour de France and World Championships. He has taken a couple of wins throughout the year but did not perform in his main goal. The inconsistency was present once again, not to the delight of Patrick Lefevere. Alaphilippe's coach and cousin Franck was not renewed for the upcoming season.
Alaphilippe was quick to announce his goals for the upcoming spring, the Tour of Flanders will be the main objective of the spring once again. As Remco Evenepoel performs at Liège-Bastogne-Liège the former World Champion focuses on the cobbles where the team has been struggling throughout the pat few years.
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- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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🚨 @alafpolak1 🛫 Australia The two-time World Champion will start his 11th season with the team in January, at the @tourdownunder 😃 Read more about it: soudal-quickstepteam.com/en/news/6340/a… Photo: @GettySport
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