Julian Alaphilippe, the renowned French cyclist from Soudal Quick-Step, has set his sights on shining in the 2024 spring classics. During a Q&A session on Instagram, the 31-year-old expressed his intentions to focus on Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and the Tour of Flanders in the upcoming year. Despite competing in these prestigious spring races this year, Alaphilippe did not play a significant role, with his best result being an 11th-place finish in Milan-San Remo, while he finished 43rd in Strade Bianche and 51st in the Tour of Flanders.
Looking ahead to 2024, Alaphilippe is aiming for sporting redemption in these events, prioritising Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, followed by the Tour of Flanders. He also plans to participate in other Belgian spring classics leading up to the Tour of Flanders. The Frenchman will later announce his complete racing schedule.
Alaphilippe, a former World Champion, has previously demonstrated his prowess in spring classics, notably achieving the ‘Italian double’ in 2019 with victories in both Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo. He also played a significant role in the 2020 Tour of Flanders but had to withdraw after a collision with a motorbike while in a promising position.
The French cyclist from Soudal Quick-Step describes the 2024 season as “an important one for me,” which he will commence with the Tour of Flanders in his sights. Alaphilippe, reflecting on his 2023 season, mentioned his 11th-place finish in San Remo and less prominent performances in Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders. The upcoming season is particularly crucial as it marks his final year under contract with Soudal Quick-Step.
Alaphilippe, who has had a low-profile off-season following his participation in Il Lombardia and the Japan Cup, has been regrouping at home in Andorra. He has only ridden his bike twice since the Japan Cup and is eager to return to training. With the Tour of Flanders as his primary objective, he acknowledges the challenges he’s faced in the past, including a crash in 2020 and a decision to skip the race in 2022 to focus on the Ardennes Classics. In 2023, the Tour of Flanders did not go as planned, with a knee injury hampering his performance.
Despite recent challenges and only two wins in each of the last two seasons, Alaphilippe remains motivated and determined to perform at a high level in the upcoming season, which he considers crucial. With his contract concluding at the end of 2024, he is focused on maintaining his grinta and achieving top results.
