Julian Alaphilippe is back on the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, a year after his violent crash here.
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DIRK WAEM / Belga / AFP
For his second attempt on Sunday on the Tour of Flanders, once again with the world champion's jersey, Julian Alaphilippe shows his confidence in the collective strength of his Deceuninck team.
Even if, as he explained to AFP on Saturday, the Frenchman had to digest the Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo sequence in March.
" I feel good.
I was tired after the races in Italy, it took a little while to recover.
These last days, it was not great, admitted the world champion.
I was a little reassured in A travers la Flandre.
I felt better even though I didn't have a great performance.
"
The big fall is behind him
“A few quiet days, a reconnaissance of the course, a better temperature on Sunday, and you should be fine.
We have a very strong team and, with the adrenaline of the race, it will do it!
", He advanced visibly perfectly perked up.
The French rider claims to have moved on after his very heavy fall last October in the same Tour of Flanders, during a breathless (and painful) finish with Mathieu Van der Poel and Wout Van Aert.
“I have no feeling of revenge.
For me, this is a new edition, the conditions are different.
I forget what happened, I don't want to think about what could have happened otherwise.
I accept it, it's life, coward, philosopher, Alaphilippe.
We left, we are motivated.
I am focused on Sunday, the special feeling of participating for the second time in the Tour of Flanders with the world champion's jersey.
It is both a pleasure and an honor.
I am proud to show the jersey.
"
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Julian Alaphilippe
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Tour of Flanders
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