No Tour de France for Julian Alaphilippe says Patrick Lefevere: "Last chance to win at the Olympic Games, and in his own country. Why deprive him of that opportunity?
Cycling
After a stunning return to form at the recent Giro d'Italia, where he took home a stage win and the Most Combative Rider award, many were calling for Julian Alaphilippe to make the Soudal - Quick-Step lineup for the 2024 Tour de France. According to Patrick Lefevere however, that won't be happening.
"I called him on the evening of his stage victory in the Giro d'Italia," the Soudal - Quick-Step boss, who has had a long and somewhat troubled relationship with the French former world champion, reveals in conversation with L'Equipe. "He told me that he imagined people would think of him for the Tour de France, but he didn't want to do that because he had other goals in mind."
Those other goals, are most notably the Paris Olympic Games later this summer. "He assured me that he would respect our decision because we are his employer, but I cannot imagine for a moment that I would force him to be at the start. We never did it for anyone," Lefevere explains. "Above all, I understand that Julian already has Paris in mind. This could easily be his last chance to win at the Olympic Games, and in his own country. Why deprive him of that opportunity?"
This news is sure to disappoint Remco Evenepoel, who previously announced he wants Alaphilippe by his side for his Tour de France debut. "His Giro was exceptional. It's been a long time since we've seen him at this level. I'm really happy to see him like that, to see him having fun and achieving results," the Soudal - Quick-Step leader confirmed in a pre-Criterium du Dauphine video call with various different press outlets.
For French National Coach Thomas Voeckler however, the news of Alaphilippe fully focusing on the Olympics is a massive boost. "It wouldn't exactly be an advantage to have him first ride the Giro and the Tour in the run-up to the Olympic Games. That requires an enormous amount of focus and strength, especially with the focus on Remco Evenepoel's rankings," Voeckler tells L'Equipe. "He can only do the Tour if he rides for himself, in the run-up to the Games. And that is not possible with that focus."
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- yeah, that’s a more fair assessment. “reaching mathieu’s level” doesn’t mean you’re planning to replicate his whole career. the former IS doable, potentially. it’s just the latter that likely is not.OCexile25-12-2024
- That’s not entirely true. Every person follows their own development path and peaks differently. Remco and Primoz had hardly started cycling before elite level. Jonas was pretty much under the radzr until he unexpectedly had to take over responsibility at JV. Some guys only get real good in their thirties others have peaked mid-twenties. You can’t tell in advance how and upto what level they will progress, obviously his career might not have MVDPs length but nothing says he could not end up doing a few seasons at his level.Mistermaumau25-12-2024
- well, del grosso is 21 right now. when mathieu was a year younger than that, he was already winning elite level world championships, not U23. i think del grosso will be a very good pro for years, but if he was really going to be the next van der poel someday, he’d already have to be at that level right NOW. van der poel was showing signs of true greatness when he was 15-16. THAT’S what generational talent looks like.OCexile25-12-2024
- Yeah.... gear 😅.mikolajjj24-12-2024
- It shouldn’t be about expectations in the first place should it? Besides, if you look at everyone’s calculations as a whole they don’t add up in the first place. There’ll be 2-3 riders with a 50% chance, a dozen with 10 or 20% and dozens more with a 5% so we’re expecting at least 2 if not 3 winners. Remind me again who won before her? Says it all about using data to decide on participation.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- Ok, happy I’m not too interested in this team coz’ the account of what happened is really hard to follow.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- The UCI is worse than USA CyclingVeganpotter24-12-2024
- It's not like they wanted her to not win😅 She had an outstanding Olympics. But there's a reason why she wasn't expected to win the road race and that's ok. Things like this happen and it's great...better than seeing expected winners win.Veganpotter24-12-2024
- Bruyneel ? The man with a lifetime ban from cycling...why do you keep giving him and his doper mate, Armstrong, a platform?DJ24-12-2024
- yeah, agree. on the subject of being a “complete rider,” i do think that’s getting more interesting. mathieu seems to have decided he wants to get much better at climbing the the high mountain passes. he appears to be looking for new challenges, which should be interesting to watch. in most cases you’d dismiss a goal like that at age 30, but it’s mvdp. he’s never going to climb with the real climbers, but if he can improve enough it could open up stage wins when the parcours isnt just purely toothy and punchy.OCexile24-12-2024