Julian Alaphilippe to skip Tour to focus on the Giro d'Italia

Six-time stage winner Julian Alaphilippe will skip this year's Tour de France to concentrate on his debut in the Giro d'Italia

The 31-year-old two-time world champion, who has donned the race leader's yellow jersey for 18 days on the Tour, said he would target Giro stage wins rather than help Soudal-Quick Step team leader Remco Evenepoel around France.

Julian Alaphilippe will be the headline act when the Tour Down Under launches the men's cycling season next week, while the women's first stage begins in Adelaide on Friday.

Frenchman Alaphilippe, who won men's world road race titles in 2020 and 2021, will face a challenge from Italian pair Filippo Ganna and Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers).

Grace Brown will defend her women's title, the Australian renewing her rivalry with three-time winner Amanda Spratt in the three-stage women's race.

"Between Australia, the classics and the Giro, I wanted a change," said Alaphilippe who views the six-stage Tour Down Under as a key part of his preparations for his debut in the Italian feature.

The 31-year-old is on the comeback trail after suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a high speed crash in April 2022, and being hampered by a knee injury last year.

Australia's Jay Vine is unable to defend his title because of injury, leaving double Australian road race champion Luke Plapp as the best hope of a home winner.

Plapp's Jayco-Alula team have 2023 runner-up Simon Yates from England and Australian sprint star Caleb Ewan in their line-up.

Frenchman Alaphilippe, will have his work cut out down under with from fellow Italiansr Filippo Ganna and Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers)