Julian Alaphilippe was not present this Thursday on the seats of the Palais des Congrès in Paris for the presentation of the Tour de France 2023 route. A first for him since his professional debut. But the absence of the double world champion absolutely does not mean that he is losing interest in the Grande Boucle. Alaphilippe just wants to cut deeply after a complicated year 2022 for his morale and his body. His rainbow jersey this season has above all earned him many falls, the most serious of which in Liège-Bastogne-Liège prevented him from competing in the 2022 Tour. Patrick Lefevere, his boss, not considering him sufficiently recovered from his injuries. So no question for him to appear in public and spread ambitions for a year 2023 that he will approach a little in the fog. His desire for revenge is enormous but he doesn’t know if his body can allow him to still aim for the top steps of the podium.
When in doubt, he therefore refrained from presenting himself. But Alaphilippe has known the main characteristics of the Grande Boucle 2023 for a long time. He obviously noted that the first two stages, in Bilbao then in San Sebastian, are grounds that may suit him. “I believe that Alaphilippe has the means to take the yellow jersey on this Tour 2023, notes Bernard Thévenet, the double winner of the event. Remember he’s a puncher. The first stage is complicated and I don’t know if the favorites will want to give it their all from the start. On the other hand, Julian yes. “The latter indeed seems capable, if he finds his true level, of repeating the blow of the Fosse-aux-Loups of Landerneau where he had taken the yellow jersey during the first stage in 2021.
But will he be aligned by the Quick-Step – Soudal team (the new surname of his training in 2023)? Patrick Lefevere obviously has the opportunity to bet everything on his new foal, Remco Evenepoel, who has just won his world title. But the team’s plans seem strongly to send Evenepoel onto the Giro roads and let Alaphilippe shine again on the Tour. Asked about a start to the course that seems cut out for his Frenchman, Lefevere agrees: “Yes, the Basque Country, if he is 100%, is on his side. The first two stages are really made for its qualities. Besides, the course reminds me a bit of the one where he wore the yellow jersey for 15 days in 2019 so why not… We’ll talk about it with him, we’ll decide but later. »
