The French Julian Alaphilippe, double world champion, will appear again in the Tour de France which starts this Saturday in Bilbao under the leadership of Soudal Quick Step, where he will try to increase the number of 7 stage wins.
With four top finishes, a short but tough individual time trial, stages in France’s five mountain ranges, as well as at least five chances for the sprinters, Alaphilippe it will be one of the references in the 21 stages of the 110th edition of the Tour de France.
Alaphilippe, king of the mountains in 2018 and fifth overall in 2019 after wearing the yellow jersey for 14 days, returns to his race after his last participation in 2021.
“I’m looking forward to the Tour de France, always an exciting time of year. I did a reconnaissance of the start in Bilbao, and I can tell you it’s going to be a good and tough weekend. At the beginning of the month I drove a solid Dauphiné, where I felt I was in good shape, won and enjoyed the race,” said the Frenchman.
For the double world champion, “The Tour is a huge adventure, every day you have to fight with the team, and it has a very special atmosphere, with many people on the streets. I’m ready to start.”
Joining Alaphilippe is European champion Fabio Jakobsenstage winner in his race debut last year, Danish time trial champion Kasper Asgreen, French individual time trial champion Rémi Cavagna, Tim Declercq, Dries Devenyns, Yves Lampaert and Michael Mørkøv.
“Alaphilippe and Jakobsen are our two leaders. Julian will try to win a stagebecause he has good opportunities in the three weeks of the race, while Jakobsen will rely on Michael Morkov to guide him in the sprints,” explained sporting director Tom Steels.
Source: La Verdad
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