Julian Alaphilippe contracts Covid-19 to put brakes on comeback after Tour de Wallonie stage win atop Mur de Huy

Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) has contracted Covid-19 just two days after celebrating a comeback stage win at the Tour de Wallonie. The Frenchman marked his return to action, three months after a heavy crash at Liege–Bastogne–Liege, when finishing first atop the Mur de Huy on Saturday.

Ad/> But on Monday, Alaphilippe was forced to withdraw from the Tour de Wallonie in Belgium after testing positive for Covid. Tour de FranceTour de France team guide: Star riders, memorable moments, which French food are they?28/06/2022 AT 11:51 Alaphilippe is therefore likely to miss the Clasica San Sebastian this weekend.

The world champion suffered two broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured scapula in the Liege–Bastogne–Liege crash in April, ruling him out of the Tour de France. Alaphilippe had almost returned in time for the Tour, where he has won stages in editions from 2018 to 2021, but Quick-Step did not want to rush his comneback.

Cavendish misses out on Tour de France, Alaphilippe also absent Tour de France Femmes Stage 2 live — A day for the sprinters on second-longest stage 'Special' Pogacar will be 'force to be reckoned with' at 2023 Tour — Wiggins «The decision to leave Julian home was a very difficult one,” said sports director Tom Steels. »Julian worked hard to get back into shape after what happened to him in Liege, but it is felt that for a rider like him it’s always important to be on top of his game and be able to compete with the best riders of the peloton in a race like Le Tour.