Julian Alaphilippe will kick-start the second phase of his season at the Critérium du Dauhpiné this weekend.
The French superstar didn’t race in May as he took time to celebrate his phenomenal spring campaign, which included a maiden Monument victory.
Alaphilippe will line up at the pre-Tour de France tester on Sunday (May 9) along with fellow Monument winner this season Philippe Gilbert.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step puncheur Alaphilippe is having the season of his career so far, winning nine races in the first four months.
>>> Trek-Segafredo boss confirms Vincenzo Nibali signing
His most notable victories were all in Italy – Strade Bianche, two stages of Tirreno Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo.
He capped off his spring with another victory in Flèche Wallone in Belgium, finishing off with Liège-Bastogne-Liège where he finished 16th.
“The Dauphiné is more than just a test for the Tour de France,” said Quick-Step sports director Brian Holm.
“It’s a great and spectacular race in its own right, which this season continues the trend of the past years, putting on the table a hard course favouring the climbers.
“We go there with a balanced squad headlined by our two Monument winners - Julian and Philippe – who have recently completed an altitude training camp, but the depth of the team gives us the possibility to fight for a good result with other riders.
“The summer starts here and the Wolfpack are prepared to leave their mark over as many races as possible.”
>>> Fabio Aru returns to racing after operation
The 2019 Dauphiné, running through to Sunday, May 16, features two hilly stages, two sprint stages, a time trial and is capped off with two tough mountain days on the final weekend.
Quick-Step will rely on Colombian talent Alvaro Hodeg in the sprints, with Classics specialist Zdenek Štybar also bolstering the squad.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step squad for the Critérium du Dauphiné 2019
Julian Alaphilippe (Fra)
Rémi Cavagna (Fra)
Tim Declerq (Bel)
Philippe Gilbert (Bel)
Alvaro Hodeg (Col)
Zdenek Štybar (Cze)
Petr Vakoc (Cze)
-
-
Mathieu van der Poel 'didn't know they would remove ramp', which caused crash at Tokyo Olympics
Miscommunication continues to thwart Dutch cyclists in Japan
By Jonny Long •
-
'The closest I'll get to prison': Simon Geschke reveals what Covid quarantine is like at Tokyo Olympics
The German tested positive for Covid-19 the day before the men's road race and has been isolating in his hotel room ever since
By Jonny Long •
-
Fabio Jakobsen takes his first win after life-threatening crash
The Dutch sprinter is back on the top step after his crash with Dylan Groenewegen one year ago
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Julian Alaphilippe races 'way too crazy,' according to Patrick Lefevere
Deceuninck - Quick-Step's boss says Alaphilippe's style is how he's so successful
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Here's why Jumbo-Visma are riding blue tyres at the Tour de France 2021
Jumbo-Visma could be spotted using blue tyres at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France 2021, but why?
By Jonny Long •
-
Patrick Lefevere to discuss new contract with Mark Cavendish after Tour de France
The British sprinter has won two sprint stages in the first week of the 2021 race
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Five talking points from stage six of the Tour de France 2021
Cav wins again to put himself in pole position for green
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Five talking points from stage four of the Tour de France 2021
Cavendish is back, the rider protest, and the right kind of drama - don't miss these moments
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Mark Cavendish sprints to Tour de France 2021 stage four victory
The Manxman beat Nacer Bouhanni to victory in Fougères to take his 31st Tour win
By Richard Windsor •
-
Patrick Lefevere: Sam Bennett Tour de France absence 'says more about him than about me'
The Irish sprinter is not defending the green jersey he won in 2020
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
