Alaphilippe back

Three years later, Julian Alaphilippe will reconnect with the Critérium du Dauphiné. While he had preferred to prepare for the Tour de France on the roads of the Tour de Suisse in 2021 before having to give up on injury last year, the leader of the Soudal-Quick Step team will be present on June 4 next in Chambon-sur-Lac at the start of the 2023 edition of the event.

After finishing the first part of the season far from his ambitions in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the former double world champion will begin the home stretch of his preparation for the Grande Boucle in the Alps. At his side, the native of Saint-Amand-Montrond will find his compatriot Rémi Cavagna and Florian Sénéchal but also Andrea Bagioli, Ethan Vernon, Dries Devenyns and Mauri Vansevenant. A composition which should be closer to that which will be aligned on July 1st in Bilbao for the first stage of the Tour de France.

Look who’s back to lead Soudal Quick-Step at the @dauphine 😃

Photo: @BeelWout pic.twitter.com/O9RUbYrH2W

— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 31, 2023

Alaphilippe in search of certainties

“Most riders begin their preparation for the Tour de France after the altitude training course we just had, said in a press release the sports director of the Soudal-Quick Step team Wilfried Peeters. Julian Alaphilippe is back for the first time since the Classics, while Mauri Vansevenant returns from injury. Our biggest goal for next week is to win a stage and in Ethan Vernon we have a guy who can overcome some of the climbs and be quick in the sprint. Rémi Cavagna is motivated for the individual time trial, so we can be confident in our chances of making a good Dauphiné. »

For Julian Alaphilippe, the main thing will be to reassure himself as the Grande Boucle approaches, while Jonas Vingegaard, Richard Carapaz, Egan Bernal and even Adam Yates will also make the trip on roads that will smell good in July.