Julian Alaphilippe crashes out of Tour of Flanders

Julian Alaphilippe (Elegant-QuickStep) crashed out of the Tour of Flanders while on the attack with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) in the final 40km. He was later diagnosed with fractures of the metacarpal 2 and 4 on his right hand. He will have an operation on Monday. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) went onto win the race.

The world champion had exploded the race with several attacks but then crashed into a race motorbike. He was last in line behind van Aert and van der Poel and didn’t see the motorbike slow in front of the riders.

Van Aert and van der Poel managed to swerve out of the way but Alaphilippe hit the motorbike with his right shoulder and crashed hard. 

He was quickly treated by race paramedics but seemed to have hurt his right shoulder and right wrist. He was unable to continue in the race.

His team later confirmed his injuries in a short statement.

"Part of a three-man move inside the last 35 kilometers of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Julian Alaphilippe crashed into a motorbike and had to abandon the race. The World Champion was taken to the hospital in Ronse, where the X-rays showed fractures of the metacarpal 2 and 4 on his right hand," Elegant-QuickStep said.

"Alaphilippe, who was making his last appearance of the season in Flanders – which teammate Yves Lampaert finished in fifth place, as Elegant-Quick-Step’s best-placed rider – will be operated Monday morning at the Herentals Clinic by Dr. De Schrijver."