🎥 Alpecin-Deceuninck issues medical update on badly injured Philipsen: "Surgery will definitely be required"

It went wrong sixty kilometers from the finish. Until then, there had been very little action in the third stage of the Tour. Two riders broke away from the peloton early on but quickly realized that it would be pointless. As a result, it turned into a real leisurely stage, during which we even saw Mathieu van der Poel's yellow jersey make a brief appearance. The Dutchman made a nice jump off the road to take a bathroom break.

The first nervousness of the day came in the run-up to the intermediate sprint, 60 kilometers from the finish in Isbergues. Philipsen mingled in the battle but seemed to be stuck between the other sprinters. With a lead-out, the green jersey wearer really wanted to go for it, but it ended badly. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) appeared to collide with Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty), forcing the Frenchman to swerve. Philipsen crashed into Coquard and hit the asphalt hard. It soon became clear that Philipsen would not finish the stage.

Shortly afterward, Philipsen's withdrawal was confirmed, after which we waited for an update from Alpecin-Deceuninck. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) ultimately won the stage after even more crashes in the final. Coquard then appeared very emotional in front of the camera while Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Jonas Rickaert pointed the finger at the Frenchman.

In the end, it would not change the damage to Philipsen, which became clear after the finish. In a press release, Alpecin-Deceuninck shared a ‘preliminary diagnosis’ of its sprinter. "Displaced fracture of the right collarbone, surgery will definitely be required. At least one broken rib, possibly two. He will be as soon as possible transferred to the hospital in Herentals, where he will undergo surgery. We wish Jasper all the best and a speedy recovery!" said the Belgian team.