Julien Alaphilippe has been cleared to begin training on the rollers three weeks after his crash in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but his participation in this year's Tour de France, only 50 days after his start in Copenhagen, remains in doubt

Alaphilippe is still in doubt.

Alaphilippe was caught in a group crash with a dozen other leading riders at nearly 70 km/h before the Col du Rosier in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He suffered a punctured lung and fractured ribs and scapula. He spent several days in the hospital and at home in Belgium, initially unable to fly because of his injuries.

His Quick Step Alpha Vinyl team revealed on Thursday that Alaphilippe underwent further tests at a hospital in Herental, Belgium.

After the Ardennes Classics, the world champion always intended to stay away from racing, but doubts remain as to whether he will be back in form for the Tour de France. According to [Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl team manager Patrick Lefebvre, he faces a race against time.

"We will do everything we can, but it will be a race against time," Lefebvre wrote in his column for Het Nieuwsblad.

"Even if we get back on the bike in mid-May in the most favorable case, we still have six weeks. The Tour starts on Friday, July 1, a week earlier than usual. That, of course, is not an advantage."

According to Quick Step Alpha Vinyl, Alaphilippe's condition will be monitored as he returns to riding indoors, before further decisions are made and a program for his return to racing is determined.

In preparation for the Tour de France, it would be logical to ride the Criterium du Dauphiné (June 5-12) and the Tour de Suisse (June 12-19). A different race program could be offered by combining other shorter stage races, such as the Adriatica Ionica race (June 4-8), La Route d'Occitanie (June 16-19), and the Tour of Slovenia (June 15-19).

Alaphilippe led the Tour de France for 16 days in 2019, three days in 2020, and after winning the first stage in Landerneau in 2021. He plays a key role in the Belgian team's plans for the Tour de France.

The team ruled that Remco Evenpole would switch his Grand Tour plans from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France.

"There is a big difference, both commercially and sportingly, with and without Alaphilippe. I will not use Lemko Evenpoel as a substitute," Lefebvre said on Belgian television.