'I felt it': Alaphilippe explains decision behind his immediate retirement

Julian Alaphilippe has officially confirmed his retirement from professional cycling with immediate effect, as the former two-time world champion revealed he simply woke up one morning and knew that the 2026 season would be his last in the peloton.

The 34-year-old’s decision was first reported on Thursday evening by WielerFlits and subsequently confirmed by L’Équipe. 

Tudor Pro Cycling officially announced Alaphilippe’s retirement on Friday evening in a statement which featured a farewell interview, where the Frenchman reflected on his decision. 

“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.”

Alaphilippe explained that his decision was not prompted by one particular performance, result or setback, but rather an instinctive feeling that the right time had come.

“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,” he said.

Alaphilippe leaves the peloton with an exceptional palmarés. He won consecutive world championships in Imola in 2020 and Leuven in 2021, as well as Milan-Sanremo, Strade Bianche, Clasica San Sebastián, three editions of La Flèche Wallonne, as well as stages in all three Grand Tours.

His exploits during the 2019 Tour stand out in particular, as Alaphilippe wore the yellow jersey for 14 days and inspired a nation with his swashbuckling racing, before finishing fifth overall. 

That year was bigger than me. Milan-Sanremo, Strade Bianche, and then that Tour…,” he said. 

“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.”

Alaphilippe's two world championship victories stood out for very different reasons.

“The most personal one [Imola 2020]. 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.”

He joined Tudor Pro Cycling in 2025 on a contract that was due to run through 2027. The Frenchman claimed victory in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec in his first season with the Swiss ProTeam, which now stands as the final professional victory.

Alaphilippe finished by making clear that he now wants to step away from the spotlight alongside his retirement from racing.

“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.”