Julian Alaphilippe, seriously injured a month ago, resumed road training with a lighter program, in view of participating in the Tour de France, starting from Copenhagen (July 1 – July 24), as he confided to our colleagues of the Team.
At the end of April, Alaphilippe had been the victim of a fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège with a fractured collarbone and two ribs as well as a pneumothorax (an effusion of blood between the lung and the chest wall). After resuming training on a home-trainer on May 12, the double world champion obtained the green light from his training doctors to take part in the Quick-Step altitude course in Sierra Nevada (Spain), starting from last Friday.
“I’m super happy to be here, reported Alaphilippe on Monday, after an outing in the sun with his teammates. It’s good for morale to get back in the bath.
Still according to L’Equipe, the Frenchman does not follow the same sessions as his partners. “I have a rather light program compared to the others, the workloads are completely different, he says. I have to stick to it, it’s important. I mainly do endurance outings. I can’t exercise too hard, sprints, things like that. I hope to have a good two weeks here and we will see how my situation evolves. For now, I don’t know at all when I’m going to resume but I’m happy, I’m aware that I have to take my time. »
“I have a motivating goal, to do the Tour. That’s the main thing”
And even if for the moment the double world champion is in time to hope to participate in the Tour, nothing is done. “He is not immune to a relapse, he must remain cautious, nuance Patrick Lefevere, the manager of the Belgian team. We’re going to keep the door to the Tour open until the last moment, but Julian can’t work miracles. Even if everything goes well, it will be limited. »
The main interested party is aware that he will not necessarily be at his best level if he manages to line up on the Big Loop. But whatever. “I will train quietly, without stress, but always with the idea of being at the start of the Tour, adds Alaphilippe. If I succeed, my condition will certainly not be optimal and my preparation will be different from usual, but that is not the most important. I recovered quickly and well, I’m already back on the bike and I have a motivating goal, to do the Tour. That’s the main thing. »
Alaphilippe has already given up on his initial program: the Critérium du Dauphiné (June 5-12), recognition of several stages of the Tour as well as the French Championships in Cholet on June 26.
