Julian Alaphilippe has opted to make his debut in the Italian Grand Tour instead of the Tour de France at the age of 31 and will participate in this year's Giro d'Italia.

Alaphilippe, a former double world champion, will miss his debut at the Tour, where teammate Remco Evenpoel has competed six times in the past eight years, and will instead lead the Suredal-Quick Step team in Italy in May.

Alaphilippe did not attend the Soudal-QuickStep team presentation in Calpe on Tuesday, as he is currently in Australia to compete in the Santos Tour Down Under.

However, in an interview with L'Équipe, former Tour de France leader and stage winner Alaphilippe admitted that the program will move to the Giro d'Italia in 2024. Prior to his debut in the Italian Grand Tour, the Frenchman will return to more familiar courses, including Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Flanders Classics with Strade Bianche, which he won in 2019.

Of his decision to run the Giro instead of the Tour, Alaphilippe said, "It is by no means a punishment or a non-election. Running the Giro has been in the back of my mind for a long time."

"The question is not so much, "When will I go?" Rather than, "When will I go?" was, "Why not this year? I looked at the Australian races, the classics, and the Giro, and I saw a change."

"I wanted to go to Australia, but I didn't know if it was going to be this year or not.

Alaphilippe claimed that when he proposed the idea to Patrick Lefebvre, the Quick Step boss agreed.

"It is not my mission or my value to do that," Alaphilippe told L'Équipe.

He denied that he would have had a problem working for Evenpoel, noting that he had done so in the 2022 Vuelta a España, which the Belgian won. Rather, his argument in favor of not repeating that role in the 2024 Tour de France was that the goals were different.

When it was pointed out that not competing in the Tour in a contract year could be seen as not following the team's overall strategy, Alaphilippe said, "I know it could be seen that way. [In the Giro, I'm going for the stage win, and in the Tour [with Evenpole] I'm going for the GC.

Alaphilippe said that 2023 was a roller coaster season. Before that, in 2022, he suffered a big crash and serious injuries in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, missed the Tour with COVID-19, and crashed in the Vuelta.

He said he hopes to get back on track this spring with full races in Italy and Belgium and the currently scheduled Tour de Flanders.

"Last year was never easy. But I took a step back. This break has been great for me, and after a very straightforward winter, I feel good and relaxed. That's often a good sign.