Julian Alaphilippe has had a very difficult 2022 season but he's looking to bounce back. The former World Champion is targeting wins at the Tour des Flanders, Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo this spring and has revealed his schedule.
Whilst Liège-Bastogne-Liège was previously mentioned as a major goal, it's absence from a social media post from Soudal - Quick-Step this morning was noticeable. The team had it's official presentation this morning in Belgium and Alaphilippe's plan of action for the upcoming months has been revealed.
Whilst he plans on having his best form for the Tour des Flandres, his early months will include a mix of one-day races and stage-races, beginning at the Mallorca classics in late January in Spain. After a month with a large training block, he returns to competition at the Faun-Ardèche Classic and the Drôme Classic, before racing Strade Bianche where he crashed spectacularly over the bars last year at high-speed.
He will then follow his traditional approach to the spring, racing Tirreno-Adriatico before Milano-Sanremo where he is expected to be among the favourites. It is unsure if he will opt out of the cobbles until Flandres itself, but at the time being the Frenchman is believes to move from the first to second monument without any racing inbetween.
Check out the calendar of double World Champion @alafpolak1 for the first months of his tenth season with Soudal Quick-Step👇 Challenge Mallorca Ardèche Classic Drôme Classic Strade Bianche Tirreno-Adriatico Milano-Sanremo Ronde van Vlaanderen Photo: @BeelWout
