The French public along the roads of the Tour de France will perhaps have to do without their favorite next July.
Julian Alaphilippe, victim of a terrible fall on April 24 during Liège-Bastogne-Liège by hitting a tree at very high speed (70 km / h) continues to be treated.
The double world champion on the road (2020 and 2021) suffers from a fracture of the scapula and three ribs and a pneumothorax.
Read alsoLiège-Bastogne-Liège: fractured scapula and pneumothorax for Alaphilippe
The boss of his team, Patrick Lefebvre, gave the
Parisian
some not necessarily reassuring news from his rider with a view to the Tour de France (July 1-24).
“
The fracture itself is not a problem.
Because it resolves itself.
But one of the ribs, the one that punctured Julian's lung and created the pneumothorax, really moved a lot and has the biggest fracture.
And it is she who worries us a little.
Frankly, for the Tour de France, it will be very limited
, ”explained the leader.
Read alsoCycling: Alaphilippe, extended observation period
Blocked at home in convalescence, Julian Alaphilippe saw his period of immobilization increase from two to three weeks on the advice of doctors.
A point will be made in mid-May to decide whether or not the best current French rider will participate.
“
On May 15, we will decide based on Julian's recovery.
At that time, there will be six weeks left before the start of the Tour and we will make a decision.
In the meantime, he very regularly passes control radios of his coast in order to monitor the consolidation
, ”added the leader.
If he decides to participate in the Tour de France, Alaphilippe would take the risk of arriving at the event short of form.
A bold bet that could spoil his end of the season and his priority objective: the Worlds scheduled in Wollongong (Australia).
In the Antipodes, the French could win a third planetary crown in a row.