Julien Alaphilippe admits that this year's spring classics campaign is effectively back on paper, saying that he is "already thinking about the Tour de France."

Alaphilippe struggled to be competitive in March and even injured his knee in a crash at the Tour de Flanders. As a result, he has been forced to miss this Sunday's Amstel Gold Race, next Wednesday's La Flèche Wallonne, and possibly next Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Cycling News reported the two-time world champion's program change on Wednesday, and now Alaphilippe himself has given L'Equipe (opens in new tab) an update on his condition.

"My knee is pretty banged up," he told the French newspaper, revealing that he has bursitis in his left knee that requires antibiotics, ice, and rest.

"I will restart with a modified program and will not run the race before Liège-Bastogne-Liège," Alaphilippe confirmed.

Soudal-QuickStep indicated that Alaphilippe's participation in Liège, where he has twice been runner-up, is currently undecided. The French rider confirmed this, adding that even if he were to compete, he has no ambition to eventually win the Doyenne title.

"Hopefully, I will be there to support Lemko [Evenpole]," he said.

"In any case, I hope to help the team and close out the early part of the season. I'm already thinking about the Tour de France."

Alaphilippe has had a rough start to 2023, following a crash and injury-plagued 2022 campaign. Last year in Liège, he suffered a major crash that resulted in a fractured scapula, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung, forcing him to miss the Tour de France. He returned, but crashed again at the Vuelta a España, throwing the end of the season into disarray.

Alaphilippe started the season well with a win at the Ardèche Classic, but he fell ill at the E3 Saxo Classic and crashed early in the Tour de Flanders, his major spring goal.

Whether or not he competes in Liège, Alaphilippe will take a rest at the end of April before heading back to the Tour, where he had won six races in four events over the last year.