Julian Alaphilippe crashes; Mathieu van der Poel wins Tour of Flanders

It was an eventful Tour of Flanders yesterday, as race favourite Julian Alaphilippe (Elegant-QuickStep) crashed out.

He was on the attack with Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert and Alpecin-Fenix's Mathieu van der Poel on the final 40km stretch, when he crashed into a race motorbike.

The world champion sustained fractures to his right hand and will undergo surgery today.

Van Aert and van der Poel were able to swerve out of the way, and van der Poel went on to win the race.

Elegant-QuickStep reportedly 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.

We're hoping he has a speedy recovery!