Julian Alaphilippe will lead the Wolfpack at the 84th edition of the race.
Six weeks after concluding another successful Ardennes Classics campaign, which saw him claim a third-career victory at Flèche Wallonne and a sixth Monument podium in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Julian Alaphilippe will pin on a number again for what will be his Tour de Suisse debut, where he’ll line-up following an altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada.
The race, taking place between 6-13 June, will feature almost 18 000 meters of vertical climbing, two individual time trials (on the opening and on the penultimate day), several opportunities for the puncheurs and sprinters, but also some rough days in the mountains that will play a big role in the final outcome, including one that will take the peloton over Oberalppass, Lukmanierpass and Gotthardpass, in the heart of the Alps.
Joining the World Champion on Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s team for the 20th World Tour event of the season will be Mattia Cattaneo, Tim Declercq, Dries Devenyns, Alvaro Hodeg, Jannik Steimle and Mauri Vansevenant, the winner of this year’s GP Industria & Artigianato.
“The Tour de Suisse is one of the best and hardest week-long stage races, and this year is no different, with several testing stages and a lot of climbing. Julian is our leader, and will have a strong support from Mattia, Dries and Mauri, but also Tim, who will be there to control the race whenever needed. We’re happy to have Jannik start again a World Tour race after his crash in Nokere Koerse, but also Alvaro, who can be an option in case some of the stages will come down to a bunch sprint, which won’t be easy. Overall, there are a couple of opportunities for us to take some good results, so we’re quite confident going into the race”, said Deceuninck – Quick-Step sports director Rik Van Slycke.
