Julian Alaphilippe, darling of the French public, will “a priori” not participate in the Tour de France in 2024, said the boss of his Soudal-Quick Step team Patrick Lefevere on Tuesday in Calpe, in the south-east of Spain. “A priori no, because seeing Julian as a 100% domestic of Remco Evenepoel, I don’t like that image,” declared the Belgian on the sidelines of his team’s presentation about the former double world champion whose contract expires at the end of the year.
Winner of six stages of the Tour de France and wearer of the yellow jersey for a total of 18 days, “Alaf”, 31, remains in two very mixed seasons which have regularly aroused criticism from Patrick Lefevere against one of the most big salaries for his team. At the 2024 Tour de France (June 29-July 21), Soudal-Quick Step will bet everything on Remco Evenepoel who has gradually taken power within the Belgian team and who will start the Grande Boucle for the first time.
Julian Alaphilippe, who is currently in Australia where he will compete in the Tour Down Under for the first time in ten years next week, should participate in the Tour of Italy (May 4 to 26). “I think the Giro suits his style of impulsive runner, not always intelligent but who people like,” said Patrick Lefevere.
Asked about the Frenchman’s reaction to his likely non-selection for the Tour de France in 2024, he said: “A disgruntled rider in a team is useless. He had the opportunity to leave as several teams looked to sign him. I had discussions with him, but the year before, not last year. I said the things I wanted to say but I’m not someone who repeats myself. We reached an agreement. He said to me: Patrick, give me one more winter. Now it’s up to him to show it. I like riders who respond to the pedal and he will do that. I think he is still capable of producing results. »
