Patrick Lefevere has described Julian Alaphilippe’s departure from Soudal-QuickStep as “the tip of an period” each for the workforce and the rider. It was confirmed on Monday that Alaphilippe will experience for Tudor Pro Cycling subsequent season after signing a three-year contract with the Swiss squad.
Alaphilippe has spent the whole lot of his skilled profession thus far with QuickStep, having beforehand raced for his or her feeder workforce, however his exit from the workforce appeared seemingly this summer season after he had borne the brunt of some bracing and really public criticism from Lefevere in latest seasons.
Lefevere did provide a brand new contract to Alaphilippe, albeit on lowered phrases, and it got here as little shock when the Frenchman opted for a recent begin. He finally selected Tudor over a competing provide from TotalEnergies.
“Julian had two very weak years, 2022 and 2023, and I did not wish to pay that cash anymore. He was not a man racing for a minimal wage,” Lefevere informed Het Laatste Nieuws of his contract negotiations, including that Alaphilippe was “completely inside his rights” to refuse the provide. “You can converse of the tip of an period. Both for him and for us.”
Alaphilippe spent 11 years at QuickStep, the place highlights included two world titles, victories at Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche, and La Flèche Wallonne, and a dizzying two-week spell within the yellow jersey on the 2019 Tour de France.
In latest years, QuickStep’s plans have been more and more constructed round Remco Evenepoel’s Grand Tour aspirations. Alaphilippe struggled for kind amid seasons blighted by damage sickness, although he has loved one thing of a resurgence this yr, together with his glowing Giro d’Italia stage victory in Fano marking a turning level.
“We have a really lengthy historical past collectively. The little man got here to us very younger,” Lefevere mentioned. “We had lots of work, however we additionally had lots of enjoyable collectively. It nonetheless hurts to see him go away. He was not only a rider, Julian is sort of a little one of the household that you simply’re giving up.”
Lefevere issued some putting public criticism of Alaphilippe within the latter a part of his time at QuickStep, most notably in an interview with Humo earlier this yr when he prompt that the blame for the rider’s subdued shows lay together with his way of life and his relationship together with his accomplice, the Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse.
“I need to admit that I’ve been a bit naughty at instances and that I’ve made some silly statements,” Lefevere mentioned. “But some issues have additionally been misinterpreted. Like about Marion: I simply meant that it’s a good factor that she retains him on a leash as a result of that’s what is required with Julian.
‘As in any relationship, we’ve had our ups and downs, however I’m glad we had one other good speak. Just a few weeks in the past, he visited Wevelgem and we had been capable of speak one-on-one. We are leaving with a constructive feeling. I definitely am, and I feel he’s too. I feel his coronary heart continues to be with us.
“Julian is a extremely good man. I’ve been powerful on him, however I can even say that I’ve executed loads for him, additionally privately, when his dad died and so forth. That’s why I’m glad our relationship stays cordial.”