Rider who beat Pogacar and Vingegaard in famous Tour de France stage without a contract for 2027 - "I'm not looking for one either"
Cycling
Victor Lafay's name will invoke special memories in the minds of many cycling fans. The Frenchman put himself on the map in the 2023 Tour de France Grand Depart in Bilbao. Taking a remarkable stage win at La Grand Boucle, he now faces 2027 without a contract just over three years later.
The 30-year-old has suffered a string of injuries and illness since his Tour heroics. After joining the Unibet Rose Rockets following a strong Tour of Guangxi last October, Lafay was intent on reviving his career.
However, struggles with a mystery illness throughout winter and the entire 2026 season meant he couldn't make his debut with the team at all. He has confirmed that the Rockets did not offer him a contract for 2027 and that he is not surrently chasing a deal as he continues his recovery.
"I won't have a contract in 2027, and moreover, I'm not looking for one either," Lafay told L'Équipe.
"That would feel like I am ending something that isn't finished yet," the Frenchman added. "I would like to ride one or two more races, if the situation improves."
Victor Lafay wins a stage of the 2023 Tour de France
Lafay's Tour de France heroics
Lafay burst onto the scene thanks to his extraordinary performance on stage 2 of the Tour in 2023 - following Vingegaard and Pogacar on the Cote de Pike climb before attacking to take an unlikely stage win over the yellow jersey favourites.
Riding with Cofidis, the performance earned the French team their first stage of the race since 2008 and earned him a move to Decathlon the following season. A disappointing spell with the team saw him leave two seasons later after an underwhelming stint.
However, a second place finish at lastyear's Tour of Guangxi and discussions with Unibet Rose Rockets saw the Frenchman join the team after cosnidering an early retirement.
Now, he leaves the team having never raced a day in the 2026 season. Despite pouring cold water on a return in the near future, he sees potential to race again one day should his health issues ease and a return is possible.
In previous comments, Lafay detailed his battle with illness and fatigue over the past twelve months: “Let me explain it from the start, because those reading this might not know my whole story,” he said on his team’s Substack .
“At first, I thought it was the jet lag or the journey. I trained very gently for the first few days. But a week later, I started to worry because I still felt tired. I asked the team doctor if I could have a blood test done. I suspected a bacterial infection in my stomach, because I have had that before in the past.”
Antibiotics, consultations and tests were proving no use as doctors struggled to pinpoint what exactly had gone wrong for Lafay. As the weeks and months went by, it became clear that a recovery is a long way away.
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Long road to recovery
“However, the antibiotics didn’t help and the blood tests didn’t give me a definitive answer. I had already missed my first race and we really wanted clarity quickly so that I wouldn’t miss any other races.
"I decided to have more blood tests done and also went to see a doctor, but I just couldn’t get any answers. We suspected a virus ourselves, but if you don’t know exactly what it is, you don’t see a solution very quickly."
There's still no answer for the Frenchman, who explained that sitting at home is no easy feet either - with the daily tasks of groceries and hosting friends for dinner a tiring experience.
“I traveled with the team’s medical specialists for more extensive tests. We tested everything, and all the results indicate that I am healthy… We still don’t have the answers we are looking for.
“When I go grocery shopping, by the time I get home I can only sleep. I get exhausted so quickly. That is the case even after the slightest exertion. And I’m not just talking about physical activities. Even after dinner with family or friends, I’m just completely worn out.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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