He is one of the favorite cyclists of the French public and unfortunately he is greatly missed this year on the Tour de France. If some like Thibaut Pinot or Romain Bardet try to get out of the game, the absence of Julian Alaphilippe is clearly felt. Accustomed to great performances during prestigious stages, he has worn the yellow jersey several times, becoming over the years one of the darlings of the spectators. Alas, at the end of April, the 30-year-old rider suffered a terrible fall during the classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège and he saw his future darken.
If he miraculously pulls off without too much damage, Julian Alaphilippe is still forced to experience a real race against time in order to be ready to participate in the Tour de France. Unfortunately, his team decides at the last moment to do without his services and the father of the adorable little Nino is forced to stay at home to follow his teammates on television. A decision taken above all by Patrick Lefevere, the general manager of the Belgian cycling team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl and the latter was the target of the cyclist’s companion, Marion Rousse.
A message for Julian’s manager that didn’t go unnoticed
Consultant for France Télévisions, the beautiful 30-year-old blonde obviously did not really appreciate the ousting of Julian Alaphilippe and she made it known. During the show Bike Clubthe director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, mentioned certain stages which could have very well suited his lover, Marion Rousse had a short sentence far from being innocent. “If Patrick Lefevere listens to us, the message is passed”she says before the rest of the board reacts with a “Ouuuuh”, meaning that the attack is quite virulent. The former runner Laurent Jalabert then adds: “That’s a tackle”before concluding by considering that it is a “ground tackle” from the director of the Tour de France Women.
No tongue in cheek, Marion Rousse thus sent a very clear message to the manager of her companion, who certainly appreciated the sequence…