Julian Alaphilippe is setting his sights on improving his record at the Tour of Flanders, despite criticism from his Soudal-QuickStep team boss Patrick Lefevere. The French two-time world champion will lead his team in the Monument on Sunday, looking to do better than his previous appearances in the race. In 2020, Alaphilippe crashed out after a battle with Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert, and in 2021 he finished 42nd. Last year, another crash saw him finish 51st, but Alaphilippe remains determined to give his all and achieve a good result in Belgium.
Despite not being considered among the race favorites, Alaphilippe is unfazed by the criticism and is focused on doing his job to the best of his ability. He finished ninth at Milano-Sanremo recently but was not competitive in other races leading up to the Tour of Flanders. Alaphilippe expressed frustration at being involved in unnecessary controversies, but remains focused on his job and his family. He understands the level of competition at the Tour of Flanders this year and is prepared to adapt and give his best effort in a tough field.
Alaphilippe is aware of the strong riders in the field at the Tour of Flanders, with Mathieu van der Poel being the standout favorite. Despite knowing that winning will be challenging for his team, Alaphilippe is determined to give everything in the race and compete to the best of his ability. He remains confident in his own abilities and is focused on the task at hand rather than concerns about where he stands in the hierarchy of riders. Alaphilippe is committed to doing his job well and is not allowing external criticisms or distractions to affect his mindset going into the race.
The Frenchman is looking to improve on his previous performances at the Tour of Flanders and is motivated to achieve a good result on Sunday. Alaphilippe understands the need to adapt to the strong competition and is prepared to give his all in the race. While acknowledging that the field is tough this year, with many strong riders vying for victory, Alaphilippe remains focused on his own performance and is determined to do his best on race day. Fans can watch the Tour of Flanders live on Eurosport and discovery+, where Alaphilippe will be aiming for a strong showing in the prestigious Monument.
In conclusion, Julian Alaphilippe is shrugging off criticism and staying focused on his goal of improving his record at the Tour of Flanders. Despite not being among the favorites for the race, he is determined to give his all and compete to the best of his ability. Alaphilippe’s confidence in his own abilities and his commitment to doing his job well are driving factors as he prepares to race against a tough field on Sunday. Fans can tune in to watch the action unfold live and see if Alaphilippe can deliver a strong performance in the prestigious Monument.
