'The fire is in me is a good sign' - Alaphilippe targets Ardennes and Worlds in 2026

Julian Alaphilippe will return to Strade Bianche, but he will again forgo the cobbled Classics in 2026. The Frenchman will instead focus squarely on the Ardennes Classics, with Liège-Bastogne-Liège set to be the centrepiece of his Spring campaign.

Speaking to reporters at the Tudor Pro Cycling media day in Moraira, Spain on Wednesday, Alaphilippe also pointed to the World Championships in Montreal as a major objective.

He confirmed that he will start his season at the Volta ao Algarve in February before lining up at Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo. He will then ride Itzulia Basque Country ahead of Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In 2025, Alaphilippe had been slated to ride the Tour of Flanders but he was forced out through illness. This time, the Ronde will not feature on his schedule at all.

“I think I will come back to more of a classic programme from my side, by not mixing the Flemish Classics and the Ardennes,” said Alaphilippe. “I will be more focused on the Ardennes. I like it and give me a lot of motivation.”

The 33-year-old is also set to race the Tour de France before turning his attention to a tilt at a record-equalling third victory in the road race at the World Championships in Montreal.

“It’s maybe my last one, and it’s also on the Montreal circuit, which I like, so it can be a big goal,” said Alaphilippe, whose lone victory of 2025 came on Canadian roads at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.

“Every victory is important, but this one was a victory I was really looking for a long time. Of course, I enjoyed it. It’s quite emotional.”

Alaphilippe is facing into his second season at Tudor after spending over a decade at QuickStep. He remains a key figure at Fabian Cancellara’s team alongside Marc Hirschi, Michael Storer and new arrival Stefan Küng.

“I know how to be professional, but also to have this freedom to choose my races, to choose the way I can do my things, it’s a privilege, and I appreciate it,” he said.

“The hunger and the motivation were never a problem for me. Now it’s different and I enjoy it even more. I still have really a big grinta, otherwise I would not be so motivated to prepare this season and all the goals that are coming. When you still have this fire in you, that’s a good sign.”

On Wednesday, Alaphilippe’s contemporary Simon Yates surprisingly announced his retirement from professional cycling at the age of 33. Alaphilippe conceded that he was drawing closer to the end of his career, but he insisted that he had no fixed date in mind for his retirement.

“It’s a long process to really think about it and take the decision, because first of all, I have a contract for two more years, and then when your contract is finished, you can still decide if you want to continue, if the team wants you again, if you are still motivated and in good health,” Alaphilippe said.

“In this moment, I’m not in a situation to think about whether I should continue or not because I know I’m super motivated for this year and for 2027. Maybe in a few months I will start to think about it – but for the moment I’m really not thinking about this.”