Alaphilippe set to make Tour de Suisse debut ahead of Tour de France

La Fleche Wallonne 2021 - 85th Edition - Charleroi - Mur de Huy 193,6 km - 21/04/2021 - Julian Alaphilippe (FRA - Deceuninck - Quick-Step) - photo Vincent Kalut/PN/BettiniPhoto©2021
Alaphilippe celebrates his third La Flèche Wallonne win back in April (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) will forgo the Critérium du Dauphiné for the first time in his career, instead choosing to build up for the Tour de France at the Tour de Suisse which kicks off in Frausenfeld on June 6.

The world champion has taken part in six editions of the Dauphiné during his career, taking two stage wins and a king of the mountains jersey along the way, but he's opting to take a different path the Tour this year, according to a report in L'Equipe.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.