(SYDNEY) 2020 and 2021 cycling world champion Julian Alaphilippe will start his 2024 season down under in Australia next month, race organizers announced on Tuesday.
“I’m happy to be back in Australia,” declared the French rider of the Southall Quick-Step team, whose Tour Down Under was the first race on the World Tour circuit (First World Division) in 2014.
The men’s version of the race, won by Australian Jay Wynne earlier this year, will take place in and around Adelaide from January 13 to 21, 2024, and finish at the summit of Mount Lofty, where riders will climb twice. At the last stage.
“I remember my first race (in Australia) with my team,” Julian Alaphilippe, 31, was quoted as saying in a Soudal Quick-Step press release. “I have a lot of good memories: incredible fans, amazing weather, and I can’t wait to get back on the starting line and meet our supporters again,” said the Frenchman, who no longer competes in this country. 2022 Worlds.
“I’m especially looking forward to Willunga Hill (where riders climb twice in 5e stage, editor’s note) and to discover Mount Lofty for the first time”, commented the runner in a press release from the organisers, who is one of the favorites to wear the race leader’s saffron jersey.
In addition to his two world championship titles, Julian Alaphilippe has won seven stages in the Grand Tours (one in the Vuelta, six in the Tour de France), Milan-San Remo (2019), Flech Vallon (2018, 2019 and 2021), Classica San Sebastián (2018), Strate Beyoncé (2019) and two stage races, the Tour of California (2016) and the Tour of Britain (2018).
The women’s edition of the Tour Down Under will take place from January 12 to 16.
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