3,600 euros. That is how much Soudal-Quick Step has collected in prize money. However, a ranking where the team was almost always at the top in the past.
“It has been a difficult week,” sports director Tom Steels admits. Only leaders Julian Alaphilippe and Fabio Jakobsen were not involved due to circumstances.
“Julian always fell short, although you can see that he is getting better day by day. It is certainly not over for him.”
“Julian is still an incredibly talented rider. Will he still reach the same level as 4-5 years ago? It will be difficult. But if he has a super day, he can still compete with the best.”
Steels therefore believes that Alaphilippe will “definitely be close again” in this Tour. “He reads the course very well and still has that killer instinct.”
Jakobsen also does not write off Steels yet. “When you fall that hard, you know that the first week is already over.”
“It has reassured me that he has sprinted again in Bordeaux, even though he is certainly not in order yet. The wattages he kicked there, he will still kick in 20 years.”
“But yesterday he never really got into trouble. Then you know it will start again. You see him smiling again, he shines again. The Tour is not over for him yet.”
2023-07-10 14:57:07
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