The chips fly again in the Soudal team: Lefevere accuses Alaphilippe of drinking too much alcohol and then corrects

This is not the first time that the general manager of Soudal cycling team makes a rude statement and it’s not the first time Patrick Levevere He had to come out to clear them up a few hours after the mess they got into. And it happened again. And this time with one of his riders with whom he had already experienced several scuffles, the Frenchman. Julian Alaphilippeworld champion in 2021.

But this time, the words Lefevere used, what they said and the message they sent were not desirable to be the ‘Loulou’s’ wife, Marion Rousse, director of the women’s Tour de Franceraised his voice at Lefevere’s unwelcome message.

In particular, Patrick Lefevere accused Alaphilippe in ‘Humo’ of “drink too much alcohol” and that he needed to change his way of understanding cycling in order to get better results again and become the dominant cyclist he was. Seeing these words Marion Rousse He could not restrain himself and published a letter on his social networks, in which he said that “it is unacceptable to attack our private life as he does.”

And when Lefevere saw the confusion of his words. First, the head of the Belgian training explained that the meeting took place in November 2022 at Diegem (Belgium) where he told her that “things like this will not continue. Either I let you go or we will do things different from now on. Talent alone will not work longer. You get older and have to live differently.”

Regarding the issue that is obviously the most pressing, the one where drinking alcohol qualifies: “There was a time when there was a lot of partying, but I have to say that he hasn’t had a drink since we talked in November 2022, even within group or out of group.

And, because it cannot be different when dealing with a professional like Alaphilippewith 41 wins as a professional, Lefevere stands out Julian who always trains well, although “he lost his self-confidence. He remains important to the team. In FranceFrom an advertising point of view, he is still God. “But I like the results and there are very few.”

Alaphilippe’s last victory was in sixth stage of the 2023 Critérium del Dauphinéin front of Richard Carapazwhere he finished 10th overall, and it is also true that in recent times he has suffered a severe fall.

This season he has competed seven days, all of them going in Australia. His best result was 4th place in the fifth stage of Santos Tour Down Underwhere he finished 6th overall.

Compete again this weekend in Belgium

This Saturday Julian Alphahilipe returns to the competition in Omnloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium)a cycling classic in which he competed only once, 2021, and in which he finished 57th.

After the Omloop, Alaphilippe, who ends his contract with Soudal-Quick Step this year and after this new fire it seems difficult for him to continue defending this jersey, will participate in Street Bianche (March 2), Milan-Sanremo (March 16) and Round of Flanders the last day of the next month, before playing Italy is spinningwhere he debuts.