Julian Alaphilippe on this week in the Ardennes is like a child waiting for Christmas morning. The man in the iridescent jersey plays big on this Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège doublet. On the first, Wednesday April 20, he defends his crown after having gleaned a third success, in 2021, at the top of the Mur de Huy. In Liège, on Sunday 24, on the other hand, the idea will be to ward off bad luck after having come close to winning twice in the last two editions. And thus achieve a first major success in 2022.
A question predominates: where is “Alaf”? “I run both races to win, it’s important for me and for the team”, replies Julian Alaphilippe at the microphone of the program Tout le Sport. Traditionally, when aiming for victory, the puncher rarely misses his target. To find out more about his state of form, his cousin and trainer Franck Alaphilippe is well placed to judge: “Julian has always worked the same way: by setting goals. He is very motivated, especially for Liège”he confides.
With three victories over the Flèche Wallonne, Julian Alaphilippe is inevitably one of the big favorites for victory on Wednesday. “It’s a race where I’ve always wanted to shine“, he slips. By crossing the line in the lead, he would become the second most successful rider above the Mur de Huy, just behind the five crowns of Alejandro Valverde. A status that does not haunt him: “Julian does not set himself a challenge in relation to that. He does not put enormous pressure on the Flèche. He knows that he is not going to win it every time he participates”explains his trainer.
After a rather complicated start to the season with a checkered state of form, Julian Alaphilippe seemed to have found good legs during the Tour of the Basque Country, with a victory in the key and almost only accesits. However, the fall on the Brabant Arrow hit the leader of the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl formation in the shoulder, in particular. “I was quite satisfied with my Tour of the Basque Country after a few somewhat complicated weeks. Afterwards, there was a crash on the Flèche Brabançonne but it didn’t matter, no damage. I’m happy to be in full shape”summarizes Julian Alaphilippe.
But how much will this week affect its 2022 balance sheet? “Liège is one of his main objectives for the year. He hopes to win this race in his career”asserts Franck Alaphilippe.
Because just after the Flèche Wallonne, will come the Doyenne of the classics: Liège-Bastogne-Liège. And Alaphilippe’s recent history with the Walloon classic leaves a rather pronounced bitter taste. In 2020, he raised his arms too early and was overtaken by Primoz Roglic, before finally being downgraded to fifth position for an illicit sprint. In 2021, the Pogacar UFO stole the sprint priority from him to win his first Monument. Will 2022 be the year of redemption? The desire is there, in any case.
“The last two years have been a bit frustrating with ups and downs at the end of the race. Last year he felt very good physically in the final but he missed it. Nevertheless, he has no regrets, he has been beaten by stronger.”
Franck Alaphilippe, cousin and coach of Julian Alaphilippefrance info: sports
With this new course, this arrival on the flat and the removal of the Côte des Forges, will Alaphilippe have all the cards in hand to play Pogacar, van Aert and other Mohoric? “Obviously we don’t really know how the race will go but I think he has his chances. His strength is the presence of Remco Evenepoel in the team”analyzes his cousin and trainer.
The day after Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he will take a break, as if to take stock of the start of the season, but above all to embark on the future, and in particular the Grande Boucle: “He will have a first phase of rest just after Liège, before a preparation phase until May. He will go on a training course at altitude in the Sierra Nevada and prepare for the Tour de France”, lists Franck Alaphilippe. With new lines on his list?