Julian Alaphilippe wants to fight his way back to the top of the world rankings. After defending his world title from the previous year in 2021, the Frenchman suffered a few setbacks in the following two years. After his serious crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2022in which Alaphilippe broke his shoulder blade and two ribs, the classics specialist has not yet really got back into his stride.
That is set to change next year, especially as his contract with his current team Soudal - Quick Step expires at the end of 2024. "It will be an important season for me, in which I will try to ride at the highest level... that's never easy," said the 31-year-old during a Q&A on the virtual platform BKOOL.
Tour of Flanders 2024 - Julian Alaphilippe's big goal
Alaphilippe wants to shine as early as possible in his contract year. The focus is on a race in which he has yet to achieve a top result: "My first big goal will be the Tour of Flanders, but I'll also be riding important races like Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and the other Flemish classics before that," explained Alaphilippe. "We'll discuss what comes after that with the sports directors."
Highlights in Julian Alaphilippe's 2024 racing calendar
- Strade Bianche (02/03/2024)
- Milan-San Remo (16/03/2024)
- Flandern-Rundfahrt (31.03.2024)
However, Alaphilippe has had little success in the Tour of Flanders in recent years. On his debut in 2020, he had to abandon after a collision with an accompanying motorbike, the following year he only finished 42nd, skipped the "Ronde" in 2022 and was also unable to achieve a significant placing this year after an early mass crash in which he was involved and suffered a knee injury (51st).
Lukas Niebuhr
Working student
