Julian Alaphilippe will return to competition at the French Championships road race on Sunday, two months after a crash left him with a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade.
The course this Sunday in Cholet will see the peloton ride 241 kilometers in what should be a very challenging return to competition for the World champion. He will have by his side Florian Senechal and Remi Cavagna.
“If everything continues as it is, then the option of the Tour de France is still open, which is still in my mind,” Alaphilippe said. “But it is really important that we do not rush anything and we continue to be patient, keep talking with the medical team and take their advice.”
Alaphilippe suffered the injuries at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege after being caught up in a huge pile-up and falling into a ditch.
Alaphilippe’s team mate Remco Evenepoel will headline the Quick-Step contingent at the Belgian Championships this weekend.
The 30-year-old Frenchman returned to training on the road last month and said at the time he hoped to participate at the Tour de France, which begins on July 1 in Copenhagen.
