Julian Alaphilippe’s 2023 season looks like 2022. The one where injuries handicapped him to find the double world champion rider the two previous years. Scheduled for the start of the Amstel Gold Race this Sunday, April 16 for the start of the Ardennes classics, the rider from the Belgian formation Soudal-Quick-Step will ultimately not be in the game, as Patrick Lefévère, manager of the team, in the columns of the Belgian daily Het Laastse Nieuws. “It looks like someone is playing voodoo with us at the moment,” said the Belgian manager. Julian injured his knee when he fell on the Tour of Flanders and it’s been a bit miserable for him since. He will most certainly be out of the Amstel Gold Race. »
Julian Alaphilippe, injured and diminished, should therefore skip the start of the Ardennes classics. What to call into question his presence at the Flèche Wallonne (April 19), where he won 3 times (2018, 2019 and 2021) and at Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 23)? For the moment, this does not yet seem to be the trend for the Frenchman, who will certainly do everything to participate in these two races. Like his Soudal-Quick Step formation, Julian Alaphilippe is not really successful in this first part of the season since he has only won one victory: the Ardèche Classic, on February 25th.