Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe to leave long-time team Soudal Quick-Step at end of 2024 season, boss confirms

Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe is to leave Soudal Quick-Step, the team he has ridden for since the age of 17. The Frenchman, 32, will departthe Belgian team at the end of the 2024 season, boss Patrick Lefevere has confirmed. Alaphilippe has won six Tour de France stages and the mountains classification among many accolades in a long career, but has often come into conflict with Lefevere.

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Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe is to part ways with his long-term team, Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere has confirmed.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere confirmed that discussions over a one-year contract extension had fallen through and the Frenchman - once considered a favourite to win the Tour de France - would leave the team.

Alaphilippe has ridden for Soudal Quick-Step since the age of 17 but has had an often-tumultuous relationship with the outspoken Lefevere.

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Lefevere said the rider had "called me himself this week to let me know he was leaving," adding, "he'd been thinking about it at night for weeks and it had been making him sick, but he told me he's leaving the team."

Speaking before the Olympic Games, Lefevere also told Daniel Benson: "I love him and he's like family for me. I hope he stays but it can't be at any cost. I don't want to pay him more than I've already paid him."

Alaphilippe won the world road race title twice in a row and has a glittering palmares including Strade Bianche, three wins at La Fleche Wallonne, Milan San-Remo, and six stages and the mountains classification at the Tour de France.

He spent 14 days in the yellow jersey in 2019, but has also struggled with injuries and poor form in recent years.

Alaphilippe has frequently faced criticism from his Belgian boss, who has previously accused him of unprofessional behaviour including "too much partying, too much alcohol".

Lefevere was also given a suspended fine by the UCI for "public comments considered as disparaging towards women."

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Alaphilippe recently revealed that he had raced his Spring Classics campaign with a fractured knee sustained at Strade Bianche, and had been reluctant to disclose the injury due to the criticism levelled at him.

Since then, he has enjoyed something of a late-career resurgence, winning a remarkable stage at this year's Giro d'Italia after spending 120km in the breakaway to complete the set of stage wins at each of the three Grand Tours.

He missed out on a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic road race, won by teammate Remco Evenepoel, but placed second on his return to action on August 10 at the Clasica San Sebastian - a race he won in 2018.

Teams including Q36.5, Cofidis and TotalEnergies have reportedly expressed interest in signing the rider.

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