No Il Lombardia for Julian Alaphilippe, bringing curtain down on time with Patrick Lefevere at Quick-Step

Arguably the rider most synonymous with Soudal - Quick-Step over the last 11 years, Julian Alaphilippe will not get the chance the end his time with Patrick Lefevere's team with monument glory after being left out of Soudal - Quick-Step's lineup for Il Lombardia.

It's been known for some time now that the French, former two time world champion would be parting ways with Soudal - Quick-Step at the end of 2024, as the Tudor Pro Cycling Team offer the 32-year-old a new challenge over the coming seasons. Following his early crash at the recent Zurich World Championships however, Alaphilippe has sadly not been able to recuperate and recover in time for one last ride in Quick-Step colours at Il Lombardia.

In retrospect, Alaphilippe's Soudal - Quick-Step career can be divided into two different sectors. The first half saw Rainbow Jerseys, Tour de France stage successes, a monument victory and even very nearly a historic Maillot Jaune triumph. In more recent seasons however, bad luck, crashes and injuries have made things a little more difficult for the Frenchman, not helped by some very public criticism of his riding from team boss Patrick Lefevere.

Earlier this year, Lefevere was adjudged by many to have gone too far in his public criticisms of Alaphilippe, when he targeted his rider's personal life as he said: "Too much partying, too much alcohol.... with Marion Rousse (Alaphilippe's wife)," In a revealing interview with José De Cauwer in HUMO magazine.

Nevertheless, more recently, both Lefevere and Alaphilippe have assured that there is no lingering bad blood between the pair as a separation looms. "We have a very long history together. The little guy came to us very young," Lefevere told HLN. "We worked a lot, but we also had a lot of fun together. It always hurts to see him go. He was not just a rider, Julian is like a child of the family that you leave behind."