Lefevere against Alaphilippe's World Championships participation - "I don’t think it’s that smart"

Julian Alaphilippe had had a season full of setbacks, but his participation at the World Championships has recently been confirmed as he looks to revalidate his World title. However, not everyone is pleased with his participation, including team boss Patrick Lefevere.

“I also heard the news about his participation. He called me that he will pick up his equipment tomorrow morning [Friday] in our service course in Wevelgem," Lefevere told Sporza. He had said in the past he was not pleased with Alaphilippe's focus on Wollongong, as the team could pay for bonuses and not have the Frenchman race in the team's jersey - ignoring the additional attention that comes with the rainbow stripes which he has carried for the past two seasons.

“He wants to risk it, but I don’t think it’s that smart. If I had been him, I would have let the World Championships pass me by and put everything on the Italian races. But I understand the pressure of – what I will call – French politics. I don’t pay him to ride for the French team. Becoming world champion is nice, but I’d rather have him race in our jersey," Lefevere justified his affirmations.

The Frenchman abandoned the Vuelta following a crash on stage 11, but Remco Evenepoel has managed to defend his lead consistently in the second and third week so far. Eyes currently lay on him, but in the background Alaphilippe hopes to have his best form in the coming week. “He was not in the best condition before the Vuelta. What I saw there was good, but I think it’s risky," Lefevere concluded.