The reigning double world champion Julian Alaphilippe, ill, withdrew from the Milan-San Remo cycling race, the first “monument” of the season scheduled for Saturday, he announced on social media on Wednesday. “No Milan Sanremo for me on Saturday. Bronchitis + fever. Sad to leave the team, especially after a difficult week of racing on Tirreno-Adriatico where I felt the legs were coming back well despite my crash at Strade Bianche. Rest and patience on the program,” explained the 29-year-old French runner on his Instagram and Twitter account.
Alaphilippe had made the “Primavera”, which he had won in 2019, one of his main objectives at the start of the season, disappointing so far for him. The Quick-Step team rider only finished in 58th place in the Strade Bianche, where he suffered a spectacular fall which did not, however, prevent him from continuing the race. He then completed Tirreno-Adriatico, a stage race in Italy, in 33rd position. Without him, the Quick-Step team should revolve around Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen, 25, on Saturday.