Julian Alaphilippe skips Tour of Flanders in 2026, focuses on hill classics

Julian Alaphilippe is not scheduled to race the Tour of Flanders this year. Nor will we see him in the other cobbled classics. The Frenchman from Tudor is focusing in April on the trio of the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Last year, Alaphilippe was supposed to start in the Tour of Flanders but ultimately withdrew because he had been ill. In 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, he did participate in the Cobbled Classic. He never achieved a standout result, but in his debut in 2020, he shaped the finale until he collided with a motorbike and had to abandon. In his subsequent participations, Loulou finished 42nd, 51st, and 70th respectively.

Alaphilippe will kick off the upcoming season—his second with Tudor—in Portugal at the Volta ao Algarve. Then he will contest three races in Italy: Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo. Through the Tour of the Basque Country, he will build up towards the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Last year, the two-time world champion ultimately raced a somewhat similar spring program, although ahead of the Volta ao Algarve, he also took part in the Figueira Champions Classic. Besides that, he did not ride Strade Bianche and contested Paris-Nice instead of Tirreno-Adriatico.