Julian Alaphilippe suffered a broken hand in his crash at the Tour of Flanders 2020, having ridden into the back of a motorbike as he was breaking away from the rest of the field alongside Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix).
The Frenchman's Deceuninck - Quick-Step team released a statement saying their star man had been taken to hospital following the crash, with an x-ray revealing he'd suffered two metacarpal fractures on his right hand.
The incident that ended Alaphilippe's race occurred with 35km to go, 10km after he had attacked, having taken Van der Poel and Van Aert with him up the road.
Van Aert was driving the trio, drafting a moto in front, which then got the call to pull over and so Van Aert pulled out as it slowed on the right-hand side of the road.
Van der Poel, second in line, had just enough time to react and move quickly out of the way but Alaphilippe was caught unawares, clipping the moto and flung off his bike, landing in a heap on the floor.
The TV camera panned to the world champion lying face down on the road as Van der Poel and Van Aert checked behind them to see what had happened before ploughing on up the road.
Alaphilippe looked to be in some pain, crying out in anguish, gingerly holding his hand as medical staff rushed to assist him.
"The world champion was taken to the hospital in Ronse, where the x-rays showed fractures of the metacarpal two and four on his right hand," the Deceuninck - Quick-Step statement read.
Alaphilippe will now undergo surgery on Monday morning, the Tour of Flanders already having been his last race of the season, before rehabilitating over the winter months.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
British cyclist treated a sick goat before medalling at national championships
Veterinary student Phoebe Barker was asked to lend a hand on the farm where she was staying before her race
-
Supply chain issues cause British custom bike company to pause production of carbon frames
Spoon Customs have taken the decision to pause production of its Vars Disc, in order to manage backlogs within the company
-
21 things you didn't know about Julian Alaphilippe
From his cyclo-cross beginnings to his favourite film genre
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
-
Tadej Pogačar to ride Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, Julian Alaphilippe ruled out due to injury
Frenchman also a doubt for Liège-Bastogne-Liège due to knee problem picked up at Tour of Flanders
-
'All the pressure was on him': Philippe Gilbert impressed by Kasper Asgreen’s form ahead of Paris-Roubaix
Danish rider finished seventh for Soudal Quick-Step after Patrick Lefevere called for riders to ‘save team’s honour’
-
UCI launches investigation into massive men's Tour of Flanders pileup
World governing body also investigating road-blocking team tactics used by DSM in the race as well as by Trek-Segafredo at Dwars door Vlaanderen
-
I went to the Tour of Flanders and was shocked by the exodus of people before the women's race went past
The rush to leave the Kwaremont after the men's race was depressing, and revealing. We all need to do more to support women's cycling
-
Tadej Pogačar continues to transcend the limits of a Tour de France winner
With Tour of Flanders victory ticked off, it’s hard to bet against him adding the two remaining Monuments to his palmarès in the years to come
-
Five things we learned from the Tour of Flanders 2023: Kasper Asgreen could save Quick-Step's spring
Jumbo-Visma are fallible after all, and SD Worx's dominance continues with Roubaix in sight
