Alaphilippe ruled out of Liège for medical reasons

Julian Alaphilippe has been officially withdrawn from Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège and other upcoming races by his Soudal Quick-Step team, citing undisclosed medical reasons. This follows a challenging Ardennes Classics campaign where the two-time World Champion failed to finish Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, events he has previously won. His absence marks a significant blow for the team's prospects at La Doyenne.

This latest setback continues a concerning trend for Alaphilippe, whose career since his second rainbow jersey has been plagued by injuries, illness, and inconsistent form. Once a dominant force in the Ardennes, his inability to contend in races he historically owned, coupled with the team's vague medical explanation, raises questions about his long-term trajectory. For Soudal Quick-Step, it underscores their broader struggle to find a consistent leader for the Classics beyond Remco Evenepoel, who is also absent from Liège.

Another year, another Alaphilippe withdrawal. One can only hope the medical reasons are genuinely temporary, rather than symptomatic of a career increasingly defined by what-ifs.