If he soon has parquet flooring at home, Christian Prudhomme will probably not buy from Quick-Step, whose specialty it is, before cycling.

The director of the Tour de France regretted the choice of the Belgian team not to retain Julian Alaphilippe for the 2022 edition, despite his return to competition after his very serious fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 24.

“If someone asks me if I prefer the Tour de France with or without Julian Alaphilippe, I will answer clearly and say that I have not forgotten the dizzying and dazzling Alaphilippe of 2019, his 14 days in yellow, dropped Prudhomme Monday in the Super Moscato Show, on RMC.

I haven't forgotten the stage winner and yellow jersey for the following two years, the yellow jersey for the last three years of the Tour.

Of course I would prefer that he was there.

»

Quick-Step did "quite hard", quips Prudhomme

The boss of the biggest race in the world, whose 2022 edition starts on Friday from Copenhagen, also regrets the non-selection of Florian Sénéchal and Mark Cavendish, crowned champions of France and Great Britain respectively on Sunday.

“There will be neither the world champion [Alaphilippe], nor the French champion, nor the British champion.

A youngster, a certain Mark Cavendish with 34 stage victories on the Tour, a Merckx record equaled last year.

They did quite well in the selection, it must be recognized.

»

For his part, Alaphilippe commented on his news this Tuesday in

L'Equipe

.

About Quick-Step's decision not to retain him, the Bourbonnais said: “I'm barely digesting it and I need a little time, but yes, I understand.

"Alaf 'also returned to his terrible fall at the end of April, "by far the biggest of [his] career".

“What struck me the most was the fact of being in respiratory distress, of feeling this thing that invades you… You can't do anything, you can't control anything anymore.

You almost see yourself leaving…” “Even now, to be honest, when I do big sprints, I feel that I am more fragile than before”, adds the double world champion, who is now aiming for the Wollongong Worlds in Australia. , September 25, and the Tour of Lombardy, October 8.

Sport

Tour de France: "Disappointed", Julian Alaphilippe will not be at the start

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Tour de France: Julian Alaphilippe back to competition, two months after his serious injury

  • Sport

  • Cycling

  • Tour de France 2022

  • QuickStep

  • Julian Alaphilippe

  • Christian Prudhomme

  • Mark Cavendish