Cycling: Julian Alaphilippe participated in the Flandrian classics with a broken knee
Julian Alaphilippe didn’t want to “make excuses“. The French cyclist told the Parisianthen to The Team having run several major races in recent weeks with a fracture of the head of the fibula. The puncher was injured following a fall in the Strade Bianche on March 2, before participating in Milan San Remo, the E3 Saxo Classic and the Tour of Flanders on March 31, despite his injury.
“I felt like something wasn’t really righthe mentioned at the Parisian. With the medical team, we decided to do examinations. And they showed that I had a fracture of the head of the fibula. It was like a big embarrassment more than something unbearable. I didn’t want to say it because I didn’t want anyone to think I was making excuses. I’m tired of going through the hassles and fighting against them instead of simply dedicating myself to getting back to my true level.”
Alaphilippe then made the choice to run through gritted teeth, after discussion with his training management. “I could roll, I wasn’t in a chairhe developed at The Team. I could be competitive but I also knew I wasn’t 100%. It was confirmed in San Remo, where I grit my teeth, I’m in the top 10, it’s good, not extraordinary either.“
Further behind in the Flandrian classics, Julian Alaphilippe admits to having suffered physically during these races with such a bothersome injury. “The Tour of Flanders, I always have images in my head that make me angryhe continues in The Team. But my mistake is there, my desire to do well took over and it was not reasonable. […] This fracture allowed me to ride and therefore to dream of doing these races. I persisted. I told myself that it would pass and that was my mistake. I assume.“
Ninth in Milan-San Remo, the double world champion was unable to influence the Belgian races: 49th in the E3 Saxo Classic, 26th in Across Flanders, then 70th in the Ronde, after trying to attack very early in the race.
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