Relations between Julian Alaphilippe and Patrick Lefevere are not going to calm down. The latter has, in fact, once again blacklisted his runner to whom he blames his lack of results in 2022 during a show in Belgium. This outing comes just days after the double French world champion denied, in an interview with L’Equipe, any tension with his manager at Soudal-Quick Step.
“He (Julian Alaphilippe) said we didn’t have that conversation, I say we did. His wife and manager were there, Patrick Lefevere told reporter Karl Vannieuwkerke during the Velofollies. I told him that I was not happy at all. I understand his illnesses and his falls, but you can’t keep hiding behind this. It’s the cold truth. »
The Belgian sports director had launched hostilities last December: “I want him to recover. He owes me revenge. Julian has a champion’s salary but he must confirm that he still is. “Last year, Julian Alaphilippe experienced an incredible series of poor performances, with falls during the Strade Bianche, of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April (which deprived him of the Tour de France), then a positive test at the Covid at the end of July at the Tour de Wallonie. He had ended his year with a dislocated shoulder on the Tour of Spain, falling on the 11th stage, which had handicapped him in his quest for a 3rd world title in Australia (51st).
The Soudal-Quick Step team won 47 races in 2022, much less than the 65 in 2021, despite the world title and the victory in the Tour of Spain for young Belgian Remco Evenepoel. “It’s going to be difficult to repeat a memorable year,” said Lefevere. Now we have to look ahead and I remain ambitious. It’s a team that wants to win, everywhere, in the classics as well as in the big tours. We have more than Remco on the team. We have classic runners and we have sprinters. Due to illnesses and injuries, we weren’t able to perform as we wanted in the classics last year. »