Alaphilippe ends breakthrough season with mononucleosis

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Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) is interviewed after winning the stage and moving into the yellow jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

After an impressive season that included second place finishes in both Liège - Bastogne - Liège and Flèche Wallonne, and a second overall and the best young rider jersey at the Tour of California, 23-year-old Julian Alaphilippe was never able to regain his early season form, and finally found out why - he had contracted mononucleosis - a disease caused by the Epstein Barr virus that leads to extreme fatigue.

"When I arrived in Canada for the races I immediately had the feeling that something was wrong," Alaphilippe wrote. "I didn't feel really well. But, when you are young, you think it is simply a matter of fatigue and not fully recovering. I didn't really think about it. I tried to do my job. But, from Canada, we flew immediately to Richmond for the UCI World Championship. I spent 15 days there, so for me it was a long period mentally. Sadly, the feeling did not improve. In fact, it felt worse. I was training really hard, but my body didn't respond as I hoped. I rode the Worlds, but since the first pedal stroke I knew it would be bad for me. There was nothing I could do with my condition."

He was diagnosed upon his return to Europe, and said it was likely the result of a recent infection. "For me, it was a mixed feeling. In one way I was upset, because I couldn't finish the season the way I wanted, especially with worlds on a road course I really liked. But, on the other hand, I was relieved. I finally had an answer for why my body was not at the level I expected. It was because of an illness, not because I did something wrong in training or recovery."

"I had a few days with the team in meetings in Brussels, and now I will take a small period off before focusing on next season. I want to do well next year. I also had the chance to meet with Dan Martin, a guy who knows the Ardennes Classics well. It was nice to chat with him and discuss our mutual love for those races. We will see what we can do together. I think I can learn a lot from him and can start the 2016 season on the right path with Etixx – Quick-Step."