Patrick Lefevere has performed down the function of the group in encouraging Julian Alaphilippe to race on a fractured fibula head since Strade Bianche, with the Soudal-Quickstep supervisor describing the previous World Champion as having ‘the ultimate say’ in his choice to race.
Alaphillipe revealed that he had been racing on a fractured fibula head in an interview with Le Parisien earlier in April, reflecting that, “It was the unsuitable choice to try this” and “I ought to have taken care of myself.”
Alaphilippe’s kind has been mediocre since Strade Bianche, other than a formidable dash at Milan-San Remo on a flat tyre, and he positioned a few of the blame on his choice to not take time to recuperate from his harm.
“Julian had raced for seven days in Tirreno-Adriatico with that harm,” Lefevere mentioned in his weekly column for Het Nieuwsblad. “And in Milan-San Remo he sprinted for victory with no flat tyre. Julian was match sufficient to be aggressive and couldn’t worsen the harm.”
In that interview, Alaphilippe made clear the medical group left it as much as him whether or not he would race on the harm, however Lefevere additional clarified the context.
‘After session, it was determined to proceed within the spring,” Lefevere wrote. “The exterior world interpreted that as ‘below strain from the group’, if it wasn’t Lefevere in individual. It’s true that it will have been a giant disappointment to lose Julian at an important second, however after all he had the ultimate say.”
Alpahilippe and Soudal-Quickstep have had a turbulent relationship up to now this season, following a disagreement between group Patrick Lefevere and the previous World Champion – centred on feedback which took intention at Alaphilippe’s spouse Marion Rousse for his latest performances.
At the time Marion Rousse rebuffed Lefevere’s unfounded criticisms, encouraging him to “present a bit of extra class.”
Lefevere subsequently acquired a suspended wonderful from the UCI Ethics Committee for feedback deemed ‘disparaging towards ladies’. The group supervisor publicly apologised that means he was capable of keep away from the wonderful, however should keep away from repeating an infringement for 3 years or face the same penalty.
Lefevere has additionally made no secret of reservations about extending Alaphilippe’s contract, and the French rider is intently linked to each Cofidis and TotalEnergies as potential new groups for the 2025 season.
