After finishing 11th at the Amstel Gold Race and sixth at La Flèche Wallonne, our French climber has high hopes for La Doyenne. The 260-km Monument ranges over the wooded hillsides of the Ardennes, diving into river valleys and climbing the low mountains of the region, with more than 4,101 meters of vertical ascent on the course. The steep, sustained climbs that Alex will face Sunday are exactly the kind of climbs that he loves. He has the perfect bike for the terrain.

Alex will race Liège-Bastogne-Liège on his fifth-generation Cannondale LAB 71 SuperSix EVO. The latest iteration of Cannondale’s ultimate race bike is not only lighter than its predecessors; its more aggressive geometry and refined Series 0 carbon layup make it even more nimble and responsive than last year’s model, while refined tube shapes cut drag through the wind.

The head tube of Alex’s 2026 race bike is 10 mm lower than his 2025 SuperSix EVO, so he can push harder in the corners and duck into a more aerodynamic position. The head tube and fork crown are also significantly narrower for further aero gains. Cannondale’s engineers fine-tuned the frame in the windtunnel to reduce drag to an absolute minimum. The fifth generation LAB 71 SuperSix EVO is the fastest frame that Cannondale has ever made. It’s made even faster by Alex’s SystemBar Road carbon cockpit with its airfoil top and fully internal cable routing. 

Alex will race Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Vision Metron 45 RS wheels with 30 mm Vittoria Corsa Pros for their low-rolling resistance on the gritty Belgian roads and excellent grip on technical descents. Vision’s ultralight Metron 45 RS race wheels balance all-out speed and stability and use the new 72-tooth PRS hub system, for near lossless power transfer under load. Wahoo SPEEDPLAY AERO pedals provide the best cornering clearance in the peloton with infinite adjustability to precisely match Alex’s biomechanics.

Alex’s SRAM RED AXS brake and shift levers offer superior comfort, so he can focus all of his force into the pedals after six-plus hours of racing. Alex will use 54-41 chainrings with a 10-36 cassette at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, giving him more than enough gears for climbs like La Redoute and Roche aux Faucons and to power down the highest-speed descents. His chain is waxed with Muc-Off Dark Energy, which our team helped co-develop. It will run smoothly over the cogs after 260 kilometers of racing – guaranteed.

Alex rides a 3D-printed Fizik Argo R1 Adaptive saddle and uses Fizik Solocush bar tape. He tracks his data using his Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt.

Sunday is going to be one of the biggest efforts of Alex’s career. He has seized his chance to captain EF Education-EasyPost at the Ardennes this season and is going to give his all at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Check out the full specs of his Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO