Julien Alaphilippe (open in new tab) has confirmed that he will debut at the 2020 Tour of Flanders (open in new tab).

Alaphilippe won Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche, and his second Flèche Wallonne this spring, but has yet to taste the cobbled classic in northern Belgium.

Alaphilippe, who hinted at a debut earlier this year, confirmed his plans to compete in the Tour de Flanders in 2020 while winning the Vélo Duol prize (open in new tab).

He told L'Equipe (opens in new tab), "I need a new challenge."

Alaphilippe is the leader of Deceuninck-Quickstep for the Ardennes Classic in April, but will take on a domestique role in Flanders. [However, Deceuninck Quickstep is unrivaled in its strength. Even if Philippe Gilbert moves to Lot Soudal, they have Zdenek Stibal, Bob Jungels, Yves Lampert, and Kasper Asgreen.

Recalling a conversation with team boss Patrick Lefebvre, Alaphilippe talked about his overall role in the spring, when he is expected to lead the line from Liège to Bastogne to Liège on April 26.

"'You can compete in the Tour de Flanders, but don't make it your primary goal,' he said."

"I am an important leader in the Ardennes, but I know that Patrick will also be an important part of the team if he does not do too badly in Flanders.

It is often said that the Tour de Flanders requires experience and that it can take years to master the narrow country roads and steep cobbled climbs, but riders like Bob Jungels and Alejandro Valverde have proven in recent years that they can make an immediate impact.

Alaphilippe, who won 12 races in 2019 and finished fifth in the Tour de France after wearing the yellow jersey for 14 days, will begin his 2020 campaign with his third consecutive Tour Colombia in South America.

This year he won two stages in Tirreno-Adriatico, but will instead return to Paris-Nice before the Classics, and L'Equipe reports that he will not compete in Milan-San Remo. 2020's Paris-Nice route will include Alaphilippe's home town of Saint-Mans-Montron, and is expected to include a time trial stage in Alaphilippe's hometown.

Alaphilippe told L'Equipe, "This has been a great season. I'm starting again from scratch."