19 Oct 2020
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.
![Image: Deceuninck-QuickStep Twitter](/media/ku2cflwx/alaphilippe.jpg?width=1300&mode=max&quality=80)
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!