Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - Julian Alaphilippe: I hope to be there for the team when it will matter
Feb 27 2021 06:21 am CET
Photo of Julian Alaphilippe (c) Wout Beel
Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) is set to make his debut at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
The World Champion is ready to tackle the race of the Opening Weekend, four months after he already rode on the cobblestones of the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The rider will be part of a strong roster that will attempt to take the victory of the first classic race of the season.
"Omloop is a very beautiful race, which I used to watch on TV, and it makes me glad to make my debut here this year, especially with the rainbow jersey on my shoulders," said Alaphilippe. "It’s a great opportunity to kick off my Classics campaign and to discover this special race. I come here after a strong La Provence where I had good sensations, and this, together with the fact it’s my first presence here, gives me a lot of motivation for Saturday.
"I’m not the favourite. We come at the start with a strong and versatile team, we have several cards to play, and while we would like to win, we won’t take anything for granted. I watched some of the past editions and I got a sense of how important Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg could be in the final outcome. It can once again be where the story of the race will be written, although there’s also the possibility the race will open up early. I don’t know what will happen, but I hope to be there for the team when it will matter and help them get a very good result."
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