‘I don’t care’ – Julian Alaphilippe downplays impact of Patrick Lefevere criticism

French Julian Alaphilippe (C) addresses a press conference of the Soudal Quick-Step cycling team ahead of the Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres / Tour of Flanders cycling race, in Turnhout on March 29, 2024. The 108th edition of the Flandres Tour cycling race will take place on Sunday March 31, 2024. (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Julian Alaphilippe showed his aptitude for the Tour of Flanders on his ill-fated debut in the autumn of 2020, when he found himself in the winning break with Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert only to clip a motorbike and crash out of the race.

The Frenchman’s relationship with the Ronde has never really recovered. The following Spring, he was relatively subdued as his teammate Kasper Asgreen claimed victory. Last year, another crash compromised his race, and he rolled him an anonymous 51st.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.