"Julian has found his level again" - Alaphilippe back to his best form into World Championships, according to Thomas Voeckler

Julian Alaphilippe found his legs back this year. After several years of illnesses and injuries which led to inconsistencies, the Frenchman is racing quite strong currently and will be an outsider for the World Championships title. Team national coach Thomas Voeckler is confident in the Soudal - Quick-Step's rider.

"I'm not worried about managing egos. If the guys are here, it's because I know they will work in the interest of the French team," Voeckler said in an interview with L'Équipe. In a more hilly and difficult course they won't be as strong as in the Paris Olympics; but come with Alaphilippe, David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas, Romain Bardet and Pavel Sivakov as strong cards.

In the tough Zurich course there will be bigger favourites such as Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, the Frenchmen aren't expected to make the differences uphill but can use their numbers to race tactically strong and put pressure on rivals. And Voeckler believes that Julian Alaphilippe can be a very important card to play. 

"When we look back, when we see his current level and the more complicated moments he experienced after his fall in Liège in 2022, we should all be happy. We find it normal that he came third in Canada (at the GP de Montréal, ed.) and in what style! And he was in the final at the [Olympic] Games," he said of the two-time World Champion.

"If we are honest, we said to ourselves: 'damn, let's hope he comes back' because he was far from what he was capable of doing. He is certainly not at the end of his cycle. Julian has found his level again with different characteristics from 2020 and 2021"