Julian Alaphilippe skips opening weekend, confirmed to start season in France, focus on Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Julian Alaphilippe will be entering 2023 without the rainbow jersey, and that will not be the only change as he is set for a lighter early-season calendar in order to favour his chances in the cobbled and Ardennes classics.

Away from the Opening Weekend, Wielerflits reports that Alaphilippe will be racing the Faun-Ardèche and Drome Classics on the 25th and 26th of September instead of racing in Belgium with the cobbled classics experts. It is unknown if there will be a decision on adding a stage-race to the mix, but as it stands it is likely that the Frenchman will only rider one-day races throughout the spring.

The former World Champion will furthermore race the E3 Saxo Classic, Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He has admitted that the Tour des Flandres will be a major goal, and the two Belgian monuments are likely to be the two key days of his spring, as he lets behind Milano-Sanremo. 

Noticeably is his lack of stage-races. Changes are possible, however it seems likely that after a spring filled with crashes and illnesses in 2022, the 30-year old will be looking to arrive in April with his health intact.