March 5, 2022. A gust of wind crosses a stony section of the Strade Bianche (white roads) and shakes a group launched at high speed.
Julian Alaphilippe and his iridescent jersey are violently carried away.
After a sun, the Frenchman can pick up the thread of the race, with bruises and retrospective fear slung over his shoulder, but the victory is gone.
The beginning of a black series, since the puncher will be victims of serious falls during Liège-Bastogne-Liège, then on the Tour of Spain.
Deprived of participation in the Tour de France, too fair to defend his title on a regular basis during the world championships, Julian Alaphilippe (30 years old) went through the 2022 season (only 2 victories) in search of lost time, quickly animated by the can't wait to turn the page.
To break the neck of the curse, reconnect with success, make the hearts of the crowds beat faster, pick up the thread of his career marked by fantastic flights.
At the end of February, the rider from the Soudal-Quick Step formation won (ahead of David Gaudu) during the Ardèche Classic, his first bouquet during the 1st stage of the Tour de Wallonie in July 2022. So close, so far… "
I made a lot of sacrifices to perfect my condition for all the races coming up
," added Alaphilippe, leading the Strade Bianche (this Saturday) and Tirreno Adriatico (March 6-12).
The succession of Tadej Pogacar competing for the first time in Paris-Nice (starting this Sunday) on the Strade Bianche (184 km, including 63 km stony in 11 sectors) promises to be open.
In the absence of Wout Van Aert (who has decided to postpone his return and has made an appointment at the start of Tirreno-Adriatico on March 6), there is no shortage of candidates.
The Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel, just fresh world cyclo-cross champion is making his comeback on the road.
And he's used to not needing a lot of getting used to to stand out.
The Slovenian Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and the Briton Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers), without forgetting Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) appear with Julian Alaphilippe among the headliners of
The Strade Bianche (race which he won in 2019; 2nd in 2021) launch this Saturday the first of four spring meetings which, while waiting for a much-awaited return to the Tour de France (departure on July 1 from Bilbao), obsess Julian Alaphilippe.
After the rough getaway on the white stones, there will be Milan-San Remo (March 18; classic pinned to his list in 2019), the Tour of Flanders (April 2) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 23).
First act on Saturday, the Strade Bianche are rolling out an ideal ground to show that the ricocheting curse of the 2022 season is no more than a distant memory and that alongside world champion Remco Evenepoel who continues to take more instead, the Auvergnat can brilliantly take center stage.
