“Too much partying and alcohol”: problems with the French cycling star Alaphilippe

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2.2 million francs per year – that is how much Patrick Lefevere, head of the cycling team Soudal Quick-Step, transfers to his star rider Julian Alaphilippe (31). But in the last two seasons he hardly got anything back from the Frenchman.

“Since he signed his mega contract, he has stopped performing,” Lefevere complains about the two-time road world champion (2020, 2021) in the Belgian magazine ‘Humo’. He also knows where the dog is buried: “Too many parties, too much alcohol.” Lefevere also believes that his wife Marion Rousse (32) is a bad influence on Alaphilippe.

Rousse defends himself publicly

Rousse publicly defends himself against this accusation. “The fact that he is attacking our private lives in this way is unacceptable. I don’t drink alcohol at all, never actually. And that about parties is also not true, because with a three-year-old child you prefer to be fit in the morning,” writes the director of the Tour de France Femmes.

Manager Lefervere still has high expectations for the new cycling season – it could be the last for fan favorite Alaphilippe: “I told him: ‘It can’t go on like this anymore. If you mess up again, I’ll fire you on the spot.” That message came across.” In fact, Alaphilippe has recently shown a slight upward trend with a sixth place finish at the Tour Down Under. (cmu)

Source : Blick