Julian Alaphilippe out of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 for “medical reasons” as Tudor’s injury-hit spring deepens

Julian Alaphilippe will not take part in Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 after his team Tudor Pro Cycling Team confirmed the Frenchman has been forced to miss the Monument for unspecified “medical reasons”.

The former world champion will also skip next week’s Eschborn-Frankfurt, with the team stating the decision has been taken “to prioritise his health and ensure a full return to racing”.

His absence is a significant one for Tudor. Alaphilippe has previously shown he can compete for victory in Liège, finishing second in 2021 behind Tadej Pogacar, and has long been a rider capable of shaping the race on the decisive Ardennes climbs.

Alaphilippe’s absence is the latest setback in what has become a disrupted spring for the Tudor rider. After not starting the final stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, the 32-year-old was then forced to abandon both Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, clear signs that something has not been right physically in recent weeks.

Missing Liège-Bastogne-Liège now confirms that the issue has not been resolved in time for one of the key races of the Ardennes calendar.

Alaphilippe’s situation does not stand alone. Marc Hirschi, another of Tudor’s main Ardennes options, also saw his campaign disrupted after crashing at Flèche Wallonne and suffering a fractured collarbone.

The loss of both riders leaves Tudor without two of their most important leaders at a critical point in the season, particularly across a block of races where the team had realistic ambitions.

The broader picture paints a clear pattern. Tudor entered 2026 with momentum and expectation, bolstered by a strengthened roster and increasing invitations to the sport’s biggest races.

Instead, their spring has been repeatedly interrupted. Crashes, withdrawals and injuries have limited consistency in both leadership and support, making it difficult for the team to build rhythm or execute clear race strategies. With Alaphilippe now sidelined and Hirschi recovering, the Ardennes campaign has shifted from opportunity to damage limitation.

For Alaphilippe, the priority is now clear. By stepping away from both Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Eschborn-Frankfurt, the focus turns towards recovery and returning to full fitness later in the season.

For Tudor, the hope will be that this enforced pause can reset a year that, so far, has been defined more by setbacks than success.