Thonon-les-Bains: German rider Florian Lipowitz suffered a broken collarbone after crashing out of the Tour de France's 16th stage on Tuesday, his Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team said.
Lipowitz, who was third at the Tour last year, was sitting fifth overall ahead of Tuesday's 26.1km time-trial along the shores of Lake Geneva.
Although not a time-trial specialist, the 25-year-old was putting in an impressive performance before he crashed on a corner around 6km from the finish.
"After his outstanding performances and the many memorable moments he delivered over the past two weeks, this marks a bitter and far too early end to his 2026 Tour de France," Red Bull said in a statement announcing his broken collarbone.
"The entire team stands firmly behind Florian and will support him every step of the way. Our full focus is now on his recovery."
Lipowitz had been fourth at the three intermediate time-checks along the course from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains.
It meant he would have headed into the crucial mountain stages later in the week right in the battle for another podium finish this year, alongside the likes of Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas.
"He's a good kid, Florian. I'm sad to see him leave the Tour," reigning champion and race leader Tadej Pogacar said after the stage.
"I hope he can recover fast and wish him the best."
Lipowitz's Red Bull team-mate Remco Evenepoel, the world and Olympic time-trial champion, won the 16th stage.
"It's like a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory, so I wish him all the best and I hope it's not too bad," Evenepoel said of his team-mate.
Two days earlier, two-time former champion Jonas Vingegaard, who was second overall at the time, broke his collarbone in a crash on the 15th stage.
— AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
