Julian Alaphilippe injury: Positive update for Frenchman with four weeks until world championships in Australia
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Published 02/09/2022 at 17:36 GMT
Julian Alaphilippe’s hopes of defending his rainbow jersey at the UCI World Championships in Wollongong, Australia have been given a boost after his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team announced he has “no further damage” than the dislocation he suffered on Stage 11 of La Vuelta. Stream La Vuelta live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.
'Huge blow' – Reaction as Alaphilippe’s rotten year continues with Vuelta crash
Julian Alaphilippe will be able to begin full training “in the not-too-distant future” according to his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team after he crashed out of La Vuelta.
Alaphilippe crashed on Stage 11 when he slid off his bike and dislocated his shoulder.
It was initially thought that the Frenchman would not be able to defend his world title, having won the rainbow jersey in 2020 and 2021, but his team put out a statement which suggests his injury is not too serious.
“The scan has revealed there is no further damage than the dislocation originally diagnosed, meaning that Julian can begin mobilising the shoulder immediately, as well as training on his rollers,” said Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl.
“Should the movement and the pain be manageable, he then should be able to start full training in the not-too-distant future."
The Breakaway’s Adam Blythe was one of the pundits who thought Alaphilippe would be out for the rest of the season, which may still be the case, as the Frenchman has four weeks to defend his world title in the men’s road race on September 25 in Wollongong, Australia.
Giving his immediate reaction to the crash, Blythe said: “I think that will be him for the year now. He’ll be done and dusted.
“I don’t think he’ll even try to come back for any races, he’ll just say: ‘Right. That’s it, I’m done. I’m going to focus on next year and come back absolutely swinging.’
“He won't be able to compete in the World Championships, I think. He won’t be what he wanted to be if he did manage to go.
“This race for him, it was about building up that form for the World Championships. He’s missed so much racing, he needed this race to perform at the Worlds and sadly it’s not going to happen.”
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Stream La Vuelta live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.
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