Julian Alaphilippe fell heavily at 35 km from the finish of the Tour of Flanders which he therefore does not stick to his prize list in 2020. At this point in the race, the French world champion is in the lead and escaped with the Belgian. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Dutchman Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix).
Namely, the three favorites of the last classic of the season.
And Alaphilippe then has every chance of hanging the monument on his prize list.
FALL OF JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE 🚨🚨
The world champion is on the ground after having touched a motorcycle !!!!
The Frenchman seems seriously affected, he does not manage to get up #TourDesFlandres
Follow the race live: https://t.co/sdaNhFlQ3i pic.twitter.com/vhaXqCpF5n
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) October 18, 2020
But at the end of a bend, the world champion does not see a racing motorcycle occupied by a marshal practically at a standstill on the right of the road.
Surprised by this incongruous presence, Alaphilippe falls heavily and dramatically.
He is not far from making a sun over his machine.
Above all, it does not fall.
He even stays in bed for long seconds, surprised, dejected, disgusted.
He screams in pain on the tarmac, holding his elbow.
The severity of his injury is not yet known.
The Frenchman ends up sitting down but he does not leave.
He does not finish his first Tour of Flanders, he who could imagine ending his year in apotheosis to leave Van Aert and Van Der Poel, Raymond Poulidor's grandson to fend for themselves in the final.