Last month, the manager of the Soudal-Quick Step team, Patrick Lefevere, did not fail to scratch Julian Alaphilippe at the end of a dark 2022 season, marked by numerous falls and injuries from the double champion of the French world (2020, 2021).
“I want him to recover.
He owes me revenge.
Julian has a champion's salary but he must confirm that he is still one, ”said the Belgian.
This Wednesday, in an interview with L'Equipe, Julian Alaphilippe cleared the field.
“Every time I had discussions with him, it went well, says the tricolor champion.
He never said such things to my face.
To be honest, I was a little surprised to read that.
If he had any problem with me, I think he would have told me first.
So good... I don't care at all.
»
The runner also claims never to have intended to leave the Belgian formation in the off-season when Lefevere offered it to him.
“The question of changing the horizon has never arisen and still does not arise.
When we talked about it during the offseason, I told him that I didn't necessarily want to go elsewhere.
»
During the presentation of the team two weeks ago, Lefevere returned to these discussions of the offseason.
"Julian had some bad luck, it's true, but you can't hide behind that for too long.
I want to see the Julian of two years ago again, I had a frank and sincere discussion with him and made him understand that if he was tired of an environment in which he had been living since he was 17, he could leave.
But he told me he wanted to stay on the team.
»
“I always have the sacred fire”
After his difficult 2022 season, the Frenchman seems revived before attacking the year 2023. “What I experienced last year gives me even more rage.
I don't let myself go, I'm not like that.
You have to have the sacred fire to stay at the highest level, and I always have the sacred fire, ”he warns.
“I ride my bike to do it all the way, in my own way, but last year I wasn't able to do it.
I can't wait to find my best feelings and my way of running.
»
Alaphilippe intends this year to favor the classic Flanders (including the Tour of Flanders) to the Ardennes (Flèche Wallonne which he has won three times or Liège-Bastogne-Liège).
His first goal of the season will be the Strade Bianche, in Italy, a race he won in 2019.
Then it will be time for the six-time Tour de France stage winner to prepare for the Grande Boucle.
“The Tour de France will be another major objective of the year for me.
I missed the Tour, I want to perform well and relive great emotions there.
In 2019, he finished 4th after spending x days in the yellow jersey.