Julian Alaphilippe Skips French Road Nationals

Julian Alaphilippe will skip the French National Road Championships on June 28 to focus on preparation for the Tour de France.

What happened?

He has not shown his traditional attacking style this year due to illness and DNFs. Alaphilippe struggled with illness, forcing him to abandon Itzulia Basque Country. He then missed Liège-Bastogne-Liège after not finishing in the earlier Ardennes Classics.

Why it matters for Julian Alaphilippe

His Tudor team gave him time to prioritize his health before training at altitude in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The 34-year-old Frenchman returned to racing at the GP Gippingen, finishing fifth.

What comes next?

Tudor directeur sportif Sylvain Blanquefort says Alaphilippe is getting better but still lacks consistency. Blanquefort reinforced that the Tour de France remains the objective for Alaphilippe. He wants to do things well to be ready for the Tour, which starts in two weeks. Alaphilippe has six stage wins at the Tour de France from 2018 to 2021. He is very motivated to go for a seventh stage win. The goal is to capitalize on the days where he feels really good. Alaphilippe will use the next ten days to rediscover the sensations and pleasure of cycling. He will focus on his preparation to be ready for the Tour de France.