And on this day, we shall Alabelieve no more

News & Racing Quite suddenly, audaciousness stopped being enough. Julian Alaphilippe turned left onto a narrow road in Pau during stage 13 of the 2019 Tour de France, completing a time trial that was his defining moment. For seven years, he had dominated the race with the yellow jersey, winning on sheer skill and audacity. In 2019, he became the first and possibly last cyclist to win a time trial purely through panache, earning widespread admiration. Seven years later, in 2026, Alaphilippe sat on the tarmac after finishing the Tour de France, having completed 26 minutes in the final stage. His performance was largely irrelevant to the race’s outcome, and he was not part of any significant breakaway. When asked about his enjoyment, he replied, 'Non, non,' stating there was no enjoyment left. 'It's OK, it's over. It's time to stop when there is no more enjoyment.' He finished the Tour as the 125th rider. Tudor, his cycling team, reportedly pressured him to maintain a positive attitude, as he was under contract. However, on Thursday, L'Équipe reported that Alaphilippe has retired immediately, a year before his contract was set to expire. Tudor has not yet confirmed the news, but it appears to be the end of an era for one of the most exciting French cyclists of the century. On this day, we shall no longer believe in his legend.