{"id":31950,"date":"2023-12-05T23:55:07","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T23:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/alaphilippe-to-begin-2024-in-australia-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-05T23:55:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T23:55:07","slug":"alaphilippe-to-begin-2024-in-australia-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/alaphilippe-to-begin-2024-in-australia-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaphilippe to begin 2024 in Australia | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSYDNEY:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Double cycling world champion Julian Alaphilippe will begin his 2024 season at the Tour Down Under next month, event organisers said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

A six-time stage winner at the Tour de France<\/a>, Alaphilippe won back-to-back men’s world road race crowns in 2020 and 2021 but has been plagued by injuries since.<\/p>\n

“I am very happy to be returning to Australia,” said the 31-year-old Alaphilippe, who previously raced the event in 2014 on his professional debut.<\/p>\n

The Tour Down Under for men and women will take place in and around Adelaide next month, with the men’s race from January 16-21, featuring the brutal Willunga Hill climb twice and finishing on an ascent to Mount Lofty.<\/p>\n

“There are many undulating roads and tough climbs throughout various stages of this race,” added Alaphilippe, who won the King of the Mountains jersey at the 2018 Tour de France.<\/p>\n

“I’m particularly excited to revisit Willunga Hill along with Mount Lofty for the first time,” added Alaphilippe, who will be one of the favourites for the race leader’s ochre jersey.<\/p>\n

The Soudal Quick-Step rider is a one-day race specialist, but he has won two stage races \u2013 the 2016 Tour of California and the 2018 Tour of Britain.<\/p>\n

He came agonisingly close to winning the Tour de France in 2019, losing the yellow jersey with just three days to go.<\/p>\n

Race director Stuart O’Grady said of the Frenchman: “He is a true champion of our sport, and a born entertainer on a bike. We can’t wait for him to race in Australia’s greatest cycling race.”<\/p>\n

Alaphilippe is on the comeback trail after suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a high speed crash in April 2022 and then injuring his knee in a tumble at the Tour of Flanders in March this year.<\/p>\n

The women’s Tour Down Under takes place from January 12-16.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n