Julian Alaphilippe to skip Flèche Wallonne, should make rainbow jersey debut at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The new world champion will wear the rainbow jersey at a number of 'spring Classics' this October

Julian Alaphilippe en route to winning the Imola 2020 Worlds road race (Yuzuru Sunada)

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Julian Alaphilippe has chosen not to defend his Flèche Wallonne title, and will instead likely debut his rainbow jersey at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The Frenchman has said Flèche Wallonne, which takes place on Wednesday September 30, comes "too soon" after his road race exploits in Imola. Instead, he will look to line up for the first time as world champion days later on Sunday October 4 for Liège. The Monument has evaded Alaphilippe so far in his career and he's previously highlighted it as a key victory he wants to achieve this season.

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Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.


Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).


I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.