2023-06-28 20:11:20
Surrounded by his teammate at Soudal – Quick-Step, Fabio Jakobsen and his sporting director Tom Steels, Julian Alaphilippe, visibly relaxed, engaged in the classic exercise of the pre-Tour de France press conference.
Are you happy to return to the Tour de France after your absence last year?
JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE. I’m glad to be back! I did what was necessary for that. Now it’s up to me to take advantage of this always exceptional atmosphere of the Tour de France. I will savor.
It is said that the first stage, with the Pike coast, corresponds perfectly to your qualities and that you could find the yellow jersey there…
I have already recognized it twice and I will go back there this Thursday with the team. In any case, I really like this first stage and its layout. And I’m going to do my best to do something. I don’t know if the course of this Tour is very hard. It is perhaps one of the toughest in recent years. Anyway, at the end there will be stages that will be a bit crazy. In any case, I am ready for a difficult Tour.
This first step is made for punchers. You were the best in the world at this a few years ago. And today ?
I remain a puncher. But now there are the three musketeers, Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. Let’s say I’m the little musketeer but I hope to be there!
What will be your ambitions on this Tour?
I’m already very happy to be here and I’ll take it step by step. The goal is of course to win a stage. Afterwards, if I can take the yellow jersey, it will be a dream. But it will be super hard even if I am super motivated. In any case, my preparation was good and the short break I took after Liège-Bastogne-Liège did me a lot of good.
Are you well recovered from your heat stroke on Sunday during the French Championships?
But don’t worry about me. Heatstroke happens. I haven’t lost my confidence because of it and I already feel a lot better.
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