Why Julian Alaphilippe is not doing the Tour de France ?

The Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start of the Tour de France this Saturday. Florence.

A time announced, in particular to support Remco Evenepoel, the Frenchman, double world champion and former wearer of the yellow jersey, will not participate in this event. this Tour de France 2024. The reason is simple, Julian Alaphilippe participated in the Tour de France 2024. at the Giro a little earlier this year. Stage winner, he put on a show during the three weeks and was not originally planned for the Tour de France. Its calendar and program have been updated. organized for this Tour of Italy, and the Olympic Games.

A decision accepted by his team as explained by his manager Patrick Lefévere. "He told me that he imagined that we would think ' him for the Tour but that he did not want to do it because he had other objectives in mind. He assured me that he would bend to anything our decision because we are his employer but I cannot imagine for a moment forcing him to do so. To be at the start. We never did it for anyone. Above all, I understand that Julian has already done so. Paris in the lead, this will perhaps be his last chance to experience the Olympic Games, especially at home. the House. Why deprive him of ça ?"

Good news for Thomas Voeckler who did not view his participation favorably. "We cannot consider the Olympic Games as a goal after having run like Julian in a Giro so challenging almost every day " before and then following the Tour de France in the service of a leader (Evenepoel) who will play the general with the physical expenditure and the mental wear and tear that result from it, explains Voeckler. However, we can claim to go to the Games only if we consider them to be important. re as a goal &agrav; part. Or do the Tour while managing his efforts, which cannot be his case if he works for Evenepoel.