Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Alpha Vinyl), double world champion en route, will debut the 2022 season at the Tour de Provence, will begin preparation for the Ardennes classics, where he hopes to conquer Liège, one of his great goals for the year.
The rainbow jersey will debut in Provence for the second year in a row, in which it finished second overall, only surpassed by the Colombian Iván Ramiro Sosa, currently in the ranks of Movistar.
“Above all, I want to enjoy my second year in the rainbow jersey. Having it gives me extra motivation to fight for victory in the most important races on the calendar. I will start the season again in Provence, I liked the experience last year and I am happy to return next month to this beautiful race, together with my local fans, “says Alaphilippe.
The Gallic Champion (Saint Amand Montrond, 29 years old) will head after his home premiere to Italy to start the classics series.
“My season will continue in Italy, with Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo, before facing the Ardennes classics in April. They are careers that interest me and I want to do them well, “he says.
Alaphilippe is clear that Liege Bastoña is the objective of the year, a thorn in the pride of the French, since in the last two editions of the “dean” he has been second, relegated by the Slovenians Primoz Roglic in 2020 and Tadej Pogacar in 2021.
“La Liege will be the main objective in the first part of the year, it is a race that I love and I hope to return competing, fighting for victory “, concluded the World Champion.
