“Disappointed”, Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start

He may have “felt better” than he thought on Sunday during the road race of the French championships, Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start of the Tour de France on Sunday. The double world champion, who was back there two months after his heavy fall during Liège-Bastogne-Liège, was not retained by his Quick-Step team, the latter announced on Monday in a press release.

“The decision to leave Julian at home was difficult to make, he is one of our most emblematic riders and we wrote beautiful pages together on the Tour. Julian has worked hard to get back in shape, but a rider like him needs to be on top to express himself in a race like the Tour, that’s why we decided to give him time to be 100% on the second half of the season,” said manager Tom Steels.

“I’m disappointed not to be at the start this year, reacted the runner for his part. I have a natural affection for this race, with these days in yellow, these stage victories (…), and missing an opportunity to wear my rainbow jersey in my country makes me sad, but I understand [le choix de l’équipe]. »

Florian Sénéchal, crowned French champion on Sunday, and Mark Cavendish, winner of three stages in 2021 and who won the British championship, were also not selected.