Paris (AFP)
Julian Alaphilippe, reigning world champion, has planned a "first block" of races in his 2021 season until the classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, scheduled for the end of April.
The Frenchman will make his first appearance in the Tour La Provence race in 2021, from February 11 to 14.
"It's great to wear the rainbow jersey in France," said Alaphilippe, Wednesday, during the virtual presentation of his Deceuninck team during the pre-season training camp in Spain.
"I like the course well, I am very happy to start my season with this race. My first objective is to perform well in the first part of the season up to Liège-Bastogne-Liège".
The 28-year-old rider, who finished last season with a heavy fall at the Tour of Flanders in October, said he was improving "day by day" compared to December, when he was still handicapped by the after-effects of his injury.
"I hope to be OK for the cobblestones", added Alaphilippe, who did not detail his program for the first part of the season, based on the spring classics: "I am waiting to see the course of Tirreno (Tirreno- Adriatico, race scheduled from March 10 to 16). "
The Frenchman said, however, that he was motivated by the Tour of Flanders, which he discovered last year: "It was a great experience, the atmosphere was great, I can't wait to come back."
For the Tour de France, for which he has worn the yellow jersey for the past two years, + Alaf +, winner of five stages since 2018, confirmed keeping the same line: "I will not run the Tour for the general classification."
While adding: "You never know. In 2019 (5th in the final standings, Editor's note), it was a good surprise for me."
At the end of his contract with his current team at the end of the year 2021, the world champion said he had not yet chosen: "This is not the time, I am focused on the start of the season."
Asked finally about the foreseeable closed door on most of the races of the coming weeks, the Frenchman underlined the importance of respecting the sanitary rules: "These are difficult times. We can already be happy that the races are not canceled. C 'It's a shame for the public of course. It also changes something for the runners. I hope there will be a return to normal soon. "
© 2021 AFP