Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start of the Tour de France this Saturday in Florence.
A time announced, in particular to support Remco Evenepoelthe Frenchman, double world champion and former wearer of the yellow jersey, will not participate in this 2024 Tour de France. The reason is simple, Julian Alaphilippe took part in the Giro earlier this year. A stage winner, he put on a show for the three weeks and was not originally scheduled for the Tour de France. His calendar and programme were organised for this Giro d’Italia, and the Olympic Games.
A decision accepted by his team as explained by his manager Patrick Lefevere. “He told me that he imagined that we would think of 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 comply with our decision because we are his employer but I cannot imagine for a moment forcing him to be at the start. We have never done it for anyone. I especially understand that Julian already has Paris in mind, it might be. -be his last chance to experience the Olympic Games, especially at home. Why deprive him of that?”
Good news for Thomas Voeckler who did not view his participation favorably. “We cannot consider the Olympic Games as a goal after having run such a grueling Giro like Julian almost every day at the front and then following the Tour de France in the service of a leader (Evenepoel) who will play the general with the physical expenditure and mental wear and tear that results from it, explains Voeckler, but we can only pretend to go to the Games if we consider them as an objective in their own right. Or do the Tour by managing our efforts, which cannot. be his case if he works for Evenepoel.