Julian Alaphilippe crashes out of the Tour of Flanders 2020
The Frenchman crashed into the back of a motorbike with 35km to go
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Julian Alaphilippe has crashed out of the Tour of Flanders after colliding with a motorbike.
The Frenchman had been part of a move at the front of the race alongside favourites Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) before he suffered a nasty fall.
Trying to make their move stick, the trio were relaying with 35km to go, Wout van Aert using the slipstream of a motorbike which was then slowing on the right side of the road. Van Aert pulled out to move around it, Van der Poel having less time to see it and quickly moving out of the way leaving Alaphilippe with little chance to take evasive action and riding straight into the back of it.
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step rider went head over heels, his bike flying into the air, as he hit the deck, then screaming out in pain as medics rushed over to treat him.
He remained on the floor while receiving treatment, gingerly holding his wrist and arm, as Van der Poel and Van Aert continued to extend their gap to the chasing group.
After the day's breakaway had been caught, Alaphilippe was one of the main instigators in bringing the race to life, before his move alongside Van der Poel and Van Aert looked to have stuck.
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Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
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