QuickStep-AlphaVinyl’s star Julian Alaphilippe was taken out of racing due to a crash that he suffered at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Ever since he has been absent from mainstream racing, the rider was seen again in Cholet at the French Championship.
It is not yet confirmed whether the 30-year-old will be a part of the QuickStep-AlphaVinyl team for the Tour de France. Nevertheless, the French rider surely made his presence known with his performance on Saturday.
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In the horrible crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he suffered from two broken ribs, a puncture in the lungs, and a broken scapula. His partner, Romain Bardet, came to rescue him, and he was shocked to see his partner in a horrible condition.
After making some recovery, Julian returned to polish his skills on the bike in May. He joined the training camp at the Sierra Nevada. He is hopeful to be a part of the team for The Tour. Likewise, he was visibly yearning for it when he said:
If everything continues as it is, then the option of the Tour de France is still open, which is still in my mind
In all the past tours, he has won stages. He held the yellow jersey three times in the previous races. In 2019, he held the maillot jaune and was placed fifth in the overall tour after winning two stages. Despite being a yellow jersey holder, his focus has been on stage tours rather than the GC.
Alaphilippe is riding in the French Championship along with his teammates Florian Sénéchal and Rémi Cavagna, while Kasper Asgreen has been forced to withdraw due to a crash. However, his position in the Tour is in no jeopardy.
Fabio Jakobsen is expected to lead at the Tour, while Remco Evenepoel will not be a part of the Tour de France and will pursue Vuelta a España.
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Although Julian is eager to join the Tour, he is not ignoring his health and is considerate of the doctor’s recommendations. During his interview, he added:
it is really important that we do not rush anything, and we continue to be patient, keep talking with the medical team and take their advice before we decide when I can race again
Also Read: Biniam Girmay To Make A Comeback After Recovering From Eye Injury
Featured Image Via YouTube/ Jose Cycling
