Julian Alaphilippe at TotalEnergies, a plausible outcome?
The manager of the French team, Jean-René Bernaudeau, is convinced of this.
Already inclined to welcome the double world champion for several years, the Frenchman, once again, appealed to his compatriot in an interview given to L'Équipe during the Tour du Rwanda.
“Julian has his place with us, he knows that he could be our new Peter Sagan, especially with the arrival of a new wave of talented young riders with us,” declared the TotalEnergies manager.
He would have this position of leader, of leader because he is an example for many kids.
Plus, I know he would love our family spirit.
We claim our way of living, away from the standards of current cycling.
We live well at home.
»
With Lefevere, the rag burns
A beautiful tribute and quite a beacon call for Julian Alaphilippe, who is at the end of his contract with Soudal-Quick Step at the end of the season.
Last Tuesday, his sports director, the Belgian Patrick Lefevere, strongly criticized him, judging his behavior not professional enough.
“After signing his mega contract, we didn’t see him anymore.
Too many parties and too much alcohol... He is seriously under the spell of Marion
(Rousse, his partner)
.
Maybe too much,” he said, before apologizing at a press conference before Het Nieuwsblad on Thursday.
At the end of the year, Julian Alaphilippe will therefore be free to accept a new project, and could be tempted by the proposal from TotalEnergies.
In 2022, triple world champion Peter Sagan had already made this choice.
A true star of the peloton, the Slovakian had not, however, won many victories within the French team.
In two years, he has won a Slovakian championship title and a stage of the Tour de Suisse.
Now retired from the world peloton, he is preparing for the Olympic Games in mountain biking.