Yeah, but the sudden retirement of S. Yates gave the same feeling, however nothing came out. Of course, in such cases, it could be tests internal to the team. A bit like we are suspicious about all the 6-months 'holidays' riders at Visma have to take while they are expected to be riding (oh, Simon was at Visma as well 🙂); or the Guérin case, who was hired by a French Conti in 2018, who didn't let him race for a good 6 months too (and has now joined a Portuguese team and just won the local Tour of mopeds, like a confirmation of suspicions 😆).

As far as Alaphilippe is concerned, his wife dumped him just before the Tour de France. Sportingly, the Tour de France was also a big pain for him: it was obvious that seeing that he really couldn't do anything any more affected him and added to his personal situation. The will was nevertheless still there, but the legs weren't, even for a short while like during the 2 previous years where he was doing his attacks way too early as if he knew he wouldn't be able to perform them later in the race: on this TdF, you could see him attack, but basically only downhill, I guess that said it all.

It was also strange to see him holding at the front on the very last stage in the Alps, the hardest of the whole Tour, after not having managed anything in all other, easier, stage. Like a final test or a jubilee.

In the interviews at the Tour du Limousin yestermorn, Cavagna told that Alaphilippe called him a week ago to tell him about his retirement. So the intention probably was mulled over into a decision during the Tour de France or just after.

I have no idea what the financial agreement with his team is, BTW.