Portuguese start, heavy Classics focus and Tour de France return: Julian Alaphilippe’s clear plan for 2026

Julian Alaphilippe will begin his 2026 campaign with a clear and deliberate structure. A Portuguese season opener, a spring built almost entirely around the Classics and a planned return to the Tour de France underline a programme that leans into his strengths rather than spreading his efforts thinly.

Now entering his second year with Tudor Pro Cycling Team, the Frenchman’s calendar reflects both experience and intent. There is no overlap between the Flemish cobbles and the Ardennes, no late additions and no experimentation. Instead, the focus is on races that suit explosive climbing, repeated efforts and one day sharpness.

Alaphilippe’s season will start at the Volta ao Algarve, a familiar early test that offers both rhythm and competitive depth without the pressure of a major target. From there, his programme immediately tilts towards Italy.

Strade Bianche returns as a central marker in March, followed by Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo. It is a sequence that blends selective one-day racing with high-level stage race intensity, while keeping travel and transitions tight.

After the Italian block, attention shifts north to the Itzulia Basque Country. That race provides one final stage racing hit before the Ardennes begin, with terrain that mirrors many of the demands he will face later in April.

The Ardennes Classics then form the heart of his spring. Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege sit together as a single objective rather than part of a wider Classics scattergun approach. Notably absent once again are the Flemish races, reinforcing a decision to avoid mixing two very different spring campaigns.

While the emphasis is firmly on 2026, the shape of the calendar is informed by what came before. Alaphilippe’s first season with Tudor in 2025 was about re-establishing consistency and confidence rather than chasing a packed results sheet. The team gave him leadership, space and a lighter programme, and that approach appears to have carried forward.

There is a sense of continuity in how his seasons are being built. The 2026 calendar avoids overload, keeps objectives clearly defined and leaves room to peak rather than simply race through the year.

The final pillar of the programme is the Tour de France. After the spring campaign, Alaphilippe is expected to return to the sport’s biggest race in July, closing the loop on a season that prioritises quality over quantity.

For Tudor, the clarity of the calendar matters as much as the races themselves. For Alaphilippe, it signals a rider fully aligned with what he still believes he can win. A Portuguese start, a Classics heavy spring and a summer return to the Tour form a coherent plan, one that strips away distractions and puts the focus exactly where he wants it.