Julian Alaphilippe will not start Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026, as his team Tudor Pro Cycling Team confirmed his withdrawal on medical grounds ahead of the Ardennes classic.
The announcement came Saturday morning via the team’s official Instagram account, stating that the double world champion would not participate in Sunday’s race to prioritize his health and facilitate a future return to competition.
Alaphilippe, 33, has struggled with form and fitness throughout the spring campaign, having abandoned three consecutive Ardennes classics: the Tour du Pays basque on April 11, the Amstel Gold Race on April 19 and La Flèche Wallonne on April 23.
Tudor also confirmed that Alaphilippe will miss Eschborn-Francfort on May 1 as part of his extended break from racing.
The French rider, a two-time UCI Road World Champion (2020, 2021), has a storied history at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, finishing second in 2015 and again in 2021, behind Tadej Pogacar both times.
His best result in the monument came in 2015 when he placed runner-up to Alejandro Valverde during his debut appearance in the race.
In 2020, Alaphilippe initially crossed the line fifth but was later demoted after raising his arms too early before the finish line, a decision that cost him a potential podium.
This season, his highest finish has been 20th place at Strade Bianche, and he has not cracked the top ten in any race since February.
Tudor has replaced Alaphilippe in their Liège-Bastogne-Liège lineup with German rider Marco Brenner, 23, who recently finished fourth at both the Tour Down Under and the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes.
The 2026 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège is expected to feature a highly anticipated duel between Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and emerging talent Paul Seixas, all of whom are listed on the official startlist.
Pogacar, the reigning champion and two-time winner of the race, enters as the favorite, while Evenepoel aims to add the Ardennes classic to his palmares after strong showings in recent weeks.
Seixas, the young French phenom, has drawn attention for his versatility and aggressive racing style, positioning himself as a potential breakthrough contender in his first full season at the WorldTour level.
The race, often referred to as “La Doyenne” as the oldest of the cycling monuments, covers approximately 260 kilometers with a challenging route through the Ardennes hills, featuring iconic climbs such as the Côte de la Redoute and the final ascent up the Ans.
Historically, Liège-Bastogne-Liège has favored puncheurs and explosive climbers, making it a natural target for Alaphilippe’s skill set during his peak years.
His absence removes one of the most experienced and accomplished riders from the field, particularly one who has demonstrated the ability to win on demanding terrain in both one-day races and grand tours.
Alaphilippe’s career includes six Tour de France stage wins, one Giro d’Italia stage, and one Vuelta a España stage, along with victories in Milan-San Remo (2019), multiple Flèche Wallonne titles (2018, 2019, 2021), and Classique de Saint-Sébastien (2018).
He has also worn the polka-dot jersey as King of the Mountains in the Tour de France (2018) and won combativity awards in all three grand tours.
Despite his recent struggles, Alaphilippe remains one of France’s most decorated cyclists of the modern era, having earned the Vélo d’Or in 2019 and been named Champion des Champions français by L’Équipe for three consecutive years (2019–2021).
His move to Tudor Pro Cycling Team in 2025 marked a new chapter after long tenures with Quick-Step-affiliated squads, though results have yet to match his earlier peak form.
Medical withdrawals in professional cycling are not uncommon during the spring classics season, where the cumulative toll of racing, travel, and preparation can lead to overtraining or illness.
Teams increasingly prioritize long-term athlete health over short-term results, especially when athletes show signs of prolonged fatigue or diminished performance.
Tudor’s statement emphasized that the decision was made to “privilege his health and assure a next return to competition,” reflecting a growing trend in professional sports toward sustainable athlete management.
For Alaphilippe, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the latter part of the season, with potential targets including summer stage races and the autumn classics.
His absence from Liège-Bastogne-Liège opens opportunities for other French riders seeking to build an impact in the Ardennes, including Julian Alaphilippe’s compatriots aiming to break through on the sport’s biggest stage.
As the peloton prepares to roll out from Liège on Sunday morning, the race will proceed without one of its most recognizable figures, though the legacy of his past performances remains embedded in the history of La Doyenne.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Julian Alaphilippe will be an update from Tudor Pro Cycling Team regarding his recovery and return-to-competition timeline, expected in the coming weeks.
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