Julian Alaphilippe Announces His Retirement

Double world champion and one of the most beloved riders of his generation, Julian Alaphilippe, announced today that he will bring his professional career to an end.

21.08.2026

His palmarès includes two consecutive road world titles (Imola 2020, Leuven 2021), Milan-Sanremo (2019), Strade Bianche (2019), three editions of La Flèche Wallonne (2018, 2019, 2021) and the Clásica San Sebastián (2018), as well as stage victories in all three Grand Tours: Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. His 2019 Tour de France, during which he wore the yellow jersey for fourteen days, captivated fans far beyond the borders of France.

“I gave everything I had, and cycling gave me everything in return,” said Alaphilippe. “That’s why I can say it with a smile: I’m stopping. Not with sadness, but with immense gratitude. To all the fans who carried me up every climb: thank you. Thank you for everything.”

Julian Alaphilippe is not available for interviews or further questions. He wishes to dedicate the coming weeks to rest and his family. No further statement will be made.

Farewell Interview

Julian, why now?

Because it’s the right time. I’ve always raced on instinct, attacking when my legs were burning, not when the numbers told me to. I made this decision in the same way. I woke up one morning at a training camp and I felt it: this is my final year. Without sadness.

What is the first word that comes to mind when you look back?

Gratitude. Truly. I’m a kid from Saint-Amand-Montrond who started out in cyclo-cross and playing the drums at musette dances with my father. If you had told that kid one day that he would wear the yellow jersey for fourteen days and become a two-time world champion, he would never have believed you. None of this was something I was owed. It was a gift. A gift from many people.

2019. The whole of France came to a standstill.

That year was bigger than me. Milan-Sanremo, Strade Bianche, and then that Tour… When I took the yellow jersey in Épernay, I thought: two days, three maybe. It lasted fourteen. The statistics will say that I lost that Tour; in reality, it remains one of my greatest memories.

And yet, is Imola 2020 still your greatest day?

The most personal one. I crossed the finish line and pointed to the sky, to my father. And Leuven, a year later, was the celebration that Imola couldn’t be because of Covid. That wall of people in Belgium… Belgium became my second home. Thank you.

There were deep valleys too. Liège 2022, and the criticism that followed.

A punctured lung, broken ribs, a shoulder blade. And then two years during which everyone had an opinion about my results. Sometimes that hurt more than the crash. But do you know what I remember from that period? The people who stayed. The teammates who kept riding for me, the fans who still cheered when I came over the summit in fiftieth position. Being supported when you win is easy. Being supported when you lose, that is something rare. 

Then came that Giro stage in 2024. That stage was an important moment for me. I spent 150 kilometres in the breakaway and finished alone in Fano. It wasn’t my answer to the critics, but to myself — proof that the flame was still burning.

And then came two years at Tudor Pro Cycling.

Over these last two years at Tudor, I’ve had the opportunity to give something back: helping younger riders read the race and passing on everything I’ve been lucky enough to learn over 16 years. To be listened to and respected by the younger generation is a privilege. I’m also very grateful to Tudor Pro Cycling for the support and trust they have given me over the past few months.

Any regrets?

(laughs) Liège 2020, celebrating too early, with my arms in the air. It cost me a Monument. But that’s also who I am: I raced with my heart on my sleeve, with the mistakes that come with it. I’d rather lose ten times while attacking than win once because the team car dictated how I should race.

What will you miss the most?

I can already say one thing: not having to leave home 250 days a year is not something I will miss. Finally being able to fully enjoy time with my son is what I’m looking forward to most. But of course, I will miss the taste of the effort. The moments of camaraderie with the guys, at training camps and in races, the team life - that, I will definitely miss.

What would you like to say to the fans?

That this farewell is as much theirs as it is mine. To everyone who stood at the side of a cobbled sector, a mountain pass or a village road, in France, Belgium, Italy, everywhere: you carried me through my career. I hope I gave something back - some thrills, a reason to shout, a smile, a memory shared with your father or your daughter by the roadside. Thank you for everything. Truly, for everything.

One final word?

Just this: I’m going to stop talking for a while too. I won’t give any more interviews and I won’t answer any further questions about this decision. Everything I wanted to say is here. I need some peace and quiet, and more than anything, time with my family. That’s where I want to be now. Thank you for respecting that.

Merci, Loulou!