Julian Alaphilippe abandons road world championship after fall

Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe was forced to abandon the road race of the Cycling Worlds after a fall on Sunday September 29 in Zurich (Switzerland). No footage of the accident, which occurred after about an hour of racing, could be viewed, but organizers quickly confirmed his retirement.

According to the Blues management, the 32-year-old French runner, double world champion – in 2020 in Imola (Italy) and in 2021 in Louvain (Belgium) – dislocated his left shoulder. “For the rest, he is fine. He was evacuated by ambulance and the French team doctor is with him”AFP learned from the French management.

The French team was counting heavily on “Alaf”, who appeared in good form in recent weeks, including a second place at the Clasica San Sebastian and a third place at the Montreal Grand Prix. Thursday, he said to himself “in better shape than at the Olympics”where he took the 11^e place, and had confided his ambitions for these Worlds on a selective route traced around Zurich which he said “to adore”.

On Saturday, the main French card of the Worlds, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, had to abandon the women’s race after being seized with vomiting.