With no French win after 16 stages, does the Tour de France miss Julian Alaphilippe?

The race has missed the dynamic Frenchman as much as he has missed it

Julian Alaphilippe at the 2021 Tour de France
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The run-up to the Tour de France saw a lot of speculation over the inclusion - or lack of - Mark Cavendish in Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's squad, especially in the British press. His absence, at the benefit of Fabio Jakobsen, meant he was unable to have a go at winning another stage and holding the record for wins outright. A tragedy for some.

However, in all the fuss over Cavendish's absence, another loss to the Tour, also from Quick-Step, was a little obfuscated. Julian Alaphilippe, the two-time world champion, the man who has won stages at the last four Tour de France, and worn the yellow jersey at the three most recent, was forced to stay at home.

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