Exclusive: Alaphilippe 'already excited' for Giro debut but will not go for maglia rosa

Julian Alaphilippe admitted he is “already excited” to make his debut in the Giro d’Italia after opting to skip this year’s Tour de France.

It’s something that has always been on Alaphilippe’s radar and with Soudal Quick-Step going for general classification glory in France with his team-mate Remco Evenepoel, this presented the perfect opportunity.

“It’s good news,” Alaphilippe told Eurosport. “It was a few years ago that I was saying that I wanted to do the Giro once in my career. It was a good year, I had wanted change.

“I am super focused on the Flanders Classics. I hope to achieve my objective to be at my physical peak for the start of those races. After that, I will think of the Giro.

“I’m already excited.”

Specifically, the 31-year-old is hoping to add at least one stage win to those he already has in the Tour and the Vuelta a Espana.

“[That’s] one objective, not a dream, but it’ll be good,” he added. “To discover the Giro and win a stage would be fantastic. That’s really my objective. I will be very happy.

“There is already Tim Merlier for the sprints so the team can really challenge for stages. That’s something that motivates me.”

It was also put to Alaphilippe that Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere believed the Giro would suit his “impulsive racing” style which is “not always smart”, but he disagreed with that sentiment.

“Maybe it’s short, and a bit different, but I don’t think that it’s necessary to be less intelligent, that’s for sure,” he continued.

“I am not going for the general classification so nothing changes for me. I’m going to be there at the start, I will have the same ambitions.

“In July [at the Tour de France], the team will be aligned with Evenepoel and there will be the target of winning the GC. There won’t be total freedom. The GC is the No. 1 priority at the start of the Tour, that’s what drives everything. At the Giro, everything will be done differently.”

As for his immediate focus, Alaphilippe hopes to rediscover his best form after an injury-hit 2022 and ’23.

After that, his target is to compete well in the Flanders Classics and perhaps pick up a win which he said would be “beautiful”.

“It takes time,” he said, when asked if he could return to his best. “We forget that quickly and I hope that it happens this year. We never know in advance.

“I hope to say everything looks good, I’ve not had a bad winter and I feel good, relaxed. I am well prepared, without doing anything.

“I’m not exaggerating, I don’t feel in great condition, but I feel good for where I need to be in mid-January. It’s above all a good sign for everything to be good between now and the Giro.

“[Winning a Flanders race] would be beautiful. It’s something that really motivates me and it’s one of the reasons that it’s one of my targets. It’s really one of the most demanding courses and it’s necessary to be very complete.

“I took lots of pleasure in certain Flanders races that I’ve already done and winning one would be magnificent. I am going to do everything at least to be at the starting line at 100% of my powers. The result then comes naturally, for me or the team.

“The first step is to be at 100%, which Is something I haven’t done for a while now, and it’s necessary before even talking about winning at the Giro or the Flanders races.”