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."
Alaphilippe completed his set of Grand Tour stage wins in style at the 2024 Giro d'Italia
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And yet, it attracts people, even you. What’s more, it attracts the rival fanboys to fill cyberspace with endless pointless my hero is better than your hero blabla that’s all been heard before and only helps sell the site as an advertising platform. You know what the solution is but most can’t resist. No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- he is doing 460 watts for 35 min to achieve 7 w/kg with VO2 at 96 , just unreal numbers.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just do it, and put up with the consequencesJumpyjohn08-11-2026
- "was a headliner at the Tour de France" Nobody cared about Piddie. Only rivals that were there for Pogi, Jonas, Remco, Sexias, Lipo, Del Toro and they were all expected to lose. Piddie was not even in any conversation.abstractengineer08-11-2026
Loading
3 Comments