Paris (AFP)
Julien Alaphilippe, reigning world champion, will participate on Saturday for the fifth time in Milan-Sanremo, the first great classic of the season, which he won in 2019.
“I love Milan-Sanremo, it's a great race and I'm happy to be going back. Doing it with the rainbow jersey this year makes it even more special and exciting.” Said the Frenchman, cited by his team who announced the names of his teammates on Wednesday.
Irish sprinter Sam Bennett, winner of two Paris-Nice stages, Italian Davide Ballerini, who won the Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February, will also be at the start for the Deceuninck team, alongside Danish champion Kasper Asgreen , Czech Zdenek Stybar and Belgians Tim Declercq and Yves Lampaert.
“So far my season has been good, my form has improved since my first race of the year and confidence is there. We have a strong and highly motivated team and we hope to be there when it counts. ", added Alaphilippe.
The Frenchman (28), who was third in his debut, has been on the Via Roma podium three times.
Last year, he lost one wheel in a two-man sprint against Belgian Wout Van Aert.
"Over the past two years, we have always featured in the final in Sanremo," said sporting director Davide Bramati.
"We do not hide that we would like to do it again but we know that we are not the favorites of this edition".
Since the start of the season, the world champion has won a stage in Tirreno Adriatico, ahead of the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel who will act with Van Aert as the big favorite of the "classicissima".
Alaphilippe also finished second in the Tour de La Provence, his recovery race in mid-February, and in the Strade Bianche, the first Italian classic on the calendar in early March.
Results of Alaphilippe in Milan-Sanremo:
2017: 3rd
2018: 35th
2019: winner
2020: 2nd
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