"I got cramps. I couldn't go on" - Julian Alaphilippe goes to the absolute limit in search of return to the top at Liège
Cycling
For several years now Julian Alaphilippe has struggled to match the best in the top classics. At Liège-Bastogne-Liège we have perhaps seen the Frenchman at his best level once again, but cramps in the finale of the long and difficult race saw the former World Champion sink down the results sheet.
Alaphilippe was two times second at La Doyenne, and in 2020 he celebrated a victory that turned out not to be one - he was overtaken at the line, but also later relegated for an irregular sprint. That was his last good result in the last of the Ardennes classics, as in later years he would struggle with lack of form, illness or even absence due to injuries. This Sunday he showed his best level (now in a peloton that races with an extra gear).
"I don't regret how I raced. I felt good all day, but I was at my limit after La Redoute," Alaphilippe said in words to Cyclism'Actu. Alaphilippe was part of the four-rider group that was chasing Tadej Pogacar, but gave few turns at the front of the peloton as he attempted to recover from the effort.
On the final climb of the day, the legs could not match what the head was trying to acomplish: "I tried to keep up with Ciccone, Pidcock, and Healy and push on at the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, but it was tough, and I got cramps. I couldn't go on, so I have no regrets".
In the end, he couldn't stay in the peloton either, and finished 58th on the day. "Of course, it's disappointing that I didn't get a good result. Especially since the first part of my season is almost over. But I have to stay patient. I've always given everything and raced with heart and soul. Sometimes it's just the legs".
Alaphilippe's spring schedule is not over yet though, as he will be racing Eschborn-Frankfurt in a more modest field where a victory is quite possible. ”It's encouraging to be at this level and feel strong. The team did a fantastic job. We stayed focused, rode at the front, and in the end, the results depend on your legs".
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Julian Alaphilippe & Obelix 😎 #LBL pic.twitter.com/owBpoVPL1A
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) April 27, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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