It’s now official: two-time road cycling world champion Julian Alaphilippe is retiring with immediate effect. “It is with great emotion that I write these few lines to announce the end of my sporting career,” Alaphilippe wrote on Instagram.
As early as Thursday, the French sports newspaper *L'Equipe* had reported that the French cycling star had decided that the Tour de France would be his final race. “After much thought, I had the honour of bringing this chapter of my life to a close on the Champs-Élysées – via Montmartre in Paris – during the final stage of the Tour de France,” wrote Alaphilippe.
Although Alaphilippe still had a contract with the Swiss Tudor team for another year, the 34-year-old was hardly competitive anymore. He failed to make his mark on any stage of the Tour de France, and his last professional victory was almost a year ago.
Alaphilippe won the World Road Race Championship title in 2020 and 2021. He also triumphed in the Milan–San Remo classic in 2019 and won the Flèche Wallonne three times. He also caused a sensation at the Tour de France, securing six stage wins and the King of the Mountains jersey in 2018. In 2019, he even wore the Yellow Jersey for 14 days, eventually finishing fifth overall. “I also consider myself very lucky to have realised some of my dreams and to have experienced emotions that will stay with me forever,” said Alaphilippe.
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