Julian Alaphilippe has brushed off criticism from his Soudal-QuickStep team boss Patrick Lefevere, as he sets his sights on improving his record at the Tour of Flanders.
The French two-time world champion will play the lead role for his team on Sunday as he attempts to improve on his three previous appearances in the famed Monument.
In his debut race in 2020, Alaphilippe’s battle with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) ended prematurely when he clipped a motorbike and crashed out.
After a 42nd-placed finish in 2021, another crash derailed his efforts last year when he failed to break into the top 50, finishing 51st.
Although Alaphilippe recognised that he is not amongst the favourites in the upcoming race in Belgium, he shrugged off the criticism from Lefevere and promised to “give his all” on Sunday.
“I’m coming with the ambition of achieving a result,” Alaphilippe said to RMC Radio. “Maybe I can consider myself an outsider, but above all, I consider myself a rider who has to give his all and go for the best possible result.
“I don’t want to place myself in the hierarchy of the current riders, I don’t care about all that.”
Alaphilippe finished ninth at Milano-Sanremo a fortnight ago but failed to compete at the top end of the standings at the E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen.
These are claims that the Frenchman countered.
“I really managed to detach myself from it as much as possible, like I often do,” Alaphilippe added.
“I was more annoyed about Marion, who didn’t ask for this and who doesn’t like being involved at all. She didn’t like being involved in things like that, which were pointless and made no sense.
“Some things are supposed to be personal, and it’s a bit annoying when it keeps coming out. But for me, no, I’ve detached myself from it. I don’t care, in fact.
“The only thing I can do is do my job well, and I’ve been doing it very well, as well as I can, for many years. So long as I feel like that, I don’t care about the rest.
“What matters to me is that my son is in good health and that I do my job to the best of my ability.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, the Frenchman understands how tough the field is at this year’s event, and revealed his plans to “adapt” to stay in contention.
“I know that the level is very high, and there are riders who are very, very, very strong,” the 31-year-old added.
“There’s one big favourite, Mathieu van der Poel, but we’re concentrating on what we’ve got.
“I know we’ll have to adapt because we’re far from being the favourites. We’re going to find it hard to win, but we’re going to give it our all.”