Julian Alaphilippe faced significant challenges throughout the 2022 season, despite wearing the rainbow jersey. The expectation for 2023 was a recovery; however, the charismatic French cyclist managed to secure only two significant victories: the Faun-Ardèche Classic and a stage in the Criterium du Dauphiné.
His contract will expire at the end of 2024, and it doesn’t seem likely that Alaphilippe will be able to extend his contract under the same conditions and with the same salary (around 2 million euros). Therefore, he is set for a year filled with strong emotions.
“We had an open discussion,” said Patrick Lefevere in an interview with the Belgian channel Sporza. “Everyone says that sometimes I am very tough on my cyclists.
“But I think if you are well-paid, I can also be tough. We made a deal. Julian said, ‘Look, Patrick, give me one more winter to prove that I can still do this.'”
Tour de Flanders
Alaphilippe, now 31, will soon be aiming for the spring classics again. His current schedule includes Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and the Tour de Flanders.
“With 62 kg, he doesn’t belong to the northern classics, but he is passionate about the Tour de Flanders,” says Lefevere. “In 2020, he had initiated the breakaway. Without that incident with the motorcycle, he would certainly have raced to the end with Van der Poel and Van Aert. He should still be able to do that,” concludes a hopeful Lefevere.
Recall Julian Alaphilippe’s accident at the Tour de Flanders 2020.