
This is the big news at the start of the season. Expected on the roads of the Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe finally decided to skip the Grande Boucle in order to participate in the Giro. A decision which surprised more than one but not his partner, Marion Rousse, who believes that the Tour of Italy suits her profile as a stage hunter.
Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start of the Tour de France This year. The training runner Soudal Quick-Step favored the Giro where he will be able to run with more freedom because he will not have to roll to play the general with Remco Evenepoel as it should have been the case on the Big loop. It was the best decision to make according to Marion Rousse.
Cycling – Tour: “Pogacar will be even better than last year” https://t.co/XjYRBmo0fC pic.twitter.com/rqPmFf1zc4
— le10sport (@le10sport) February 1, 2024
“It was a desire on his part”
« Julian Alaphilippe at the Giro? It was a desire on his part to try the Giro because he has been professional for more than ten years and it is one of the only races he has never done. He spoke about it with his sports directors, with Patrick Lefevere. Everyone is pretty much in agreement: this event corresponds to his profile as a stage hunter. It’s also an important year for him because it’s his last year of contract. », declared the director of Women’s Tour de France au JDD last week. Also a way to arrive in good shape JO.
“It played a big role in his decision”
« He is motivated after having experienced two somewhat difficult seasons. At the Tour de France, he knows that now that there is Remco Evenepoel, the team will compete for the general classification. He would have been there to support her. Julian still wanted to run the way he wanted to. There is also a big event to take into account this year, it is the Olympic Games. If he had been on the Tour as a Remco team, he would have left a lot of juice. It played a big role in his decision. », specified Marion Rousse.