'Don't expect to see me back' - Alaphilippe hints at Tour de France farewell
Speaking after stage 20, the former two-time world champion suggested that the 2026 Tour de France could be his final appearance at the race.
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Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) has hinted that the 2026 Tour de France will be his final appearance at the race.
Alaphilippe finished the penultimate stage in 29th place, his highest result of this year’s edition, alongside compatriot Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL). The pair crossed the line 26:00 behind stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).
The two French riders shared a hug and handshake in the closing metres of the stage, completing what could be their final Tour appearances. Alaphilippe has now raced La Grande Boucle eight times, while Barguil has reached his 12th edition.
Both riders have contracts running through 2027 with their current teams, but Alaphilippe suggested after the stage that this could be his final Tour de France.
“Nothing is official, but don’t expect to see me back,” Alaphilippe told Eurosport at the finish line on Alpe d’Huez.
If this proves to be Alaphilippe’s final appearance at La Grande Boucle, it will mark the end of an era for one of the defining Tour riders of his generation.
In his eight editions to date, Alaphilippe has won six stages in swashbuckling fashion, landed the polka-dot jersey in 2018, and famously wore the yellow jersey for 14 stages in 2019, before ending fifth overall.
Alaphilippe’s most recent Tour victory came in 2021, on the opening stage to Landerneau, giving him the yellow jersey for a day before Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) claimed the race lead on the Mǔr de Bretagne.
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