Engaged on the Strade Bianche, Julian Alaphilippe suffered a spectacular fall on the white paths of Tuscany.
After his second place in the Tour de La Provence, and a fifth place last weekend in the Drôme Classic, Julian Alaphilippe hoped to gain momentum in the Strade Bianche, one of the most spectacular classics of the season.
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Winner of the event in 2019, second in Siena last year behind Mathieu van der Poel, the world champion will have a hard time winning this year. The leader of the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl formation suffered a terrible fall shortly before the halfway point, 100 kilometers from the finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNwqFYiSDkc
On one of the white paths typical of the Tuscan event, the fall was clearly caused by the wind, which unbalanced a rider from the Alpecin-Fenix team. Alaphilippe, who already seemed uncomfortable on the edge of the road, could not avoid it. The Montluçonnais made a huge sun when it fell!
This is insane. pic.twitter.com/3n4oM5c41E
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) March 5, 2022
Alaphilippe managed to get back on the road, but he left late, just like another favorite, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). And the Frenchman is not the only leader to have been affected.
World No. 1 Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) also fell. Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma), another former winner of the event, was also caught in the fall, and he had to retire.
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