Julian Alaphilippe will remain in hospital for a further period of observation after suffering serious injuries when he crashed during the Liege–Bastogne–Liege.
The world champion was involved in a huge pile-up in the middle of the peloton 62 kilometres from the end of the race on Sunday.
Alaphilippe sustained two broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade and a collapsed lung.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team on Tuesday revealed that the Frenchman will continue to be monitored in a hospital in the Belgian city of Herentals.
The 29-year-old's team said in a statement: "As previously reported, Julian sustained two broken ribs, a broken scapula and a haemopneumothorax [collapsed lung].
"The complexity of his condition means that a period of further observation will be required before a recovery pathway will be decided. He will remain in the hospital in Herentals for the time being."
Alaphilippe's team-mate Ilan Van Wilder broke his jaw when he crashed in the same incident, but the Belgian has been discharged from hospital following surgery
Van Wilder, however, has been ruled out of the Giro d'Italia.
T&T's Nicholas Paul secures silver, bronze in Round two of UCI Track Champions League
Trinidad and Tobago’s ace cyclist Nicholas Paul delivered an impressive performance at the second leg of the UCI Track Champions League, securing a second-place finish in the men’s sprint final at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in the Netherlands on Friday.
Paul’s journey to the final was marked by a brilliant semi-final victory, where he stunned then-sprint leader Australian Matthew Richardson, who had amassed 64 points.
However, in the final, Paul faced Dutch Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, who was racing before his home crowd.
Lavreysen delivered a dominant performance, taking control from start to finish to claim victory and ascend to the top of the leaderboard with 71 points, while Paul’s second-place finish boosted his overall tally to 58 points, maintaining his third position in the standings.
Paul’s semi-final ride showcased his tactical acumen and explosive power. He caught his competitors off guard with an early move, creating a significant gap and maintaining his composure to secure a commanding win.
Paul also earned a podium spot in the keirin event, finishing third behind winner Cristian Ortega of Colombia and Lavreysen, who settled for second in a thrilling final.
This performance builds on Paul’s results from the first leg of the Champions League in France last week, where he finished third in the sprint and fifth in the keirin.
The competition continues on Saturday for the third round, where Paul will aim to climb further up the leaderboard and improve his impressive form against the world’s best cyclists.
T&T's Nicholas Paul sets sights on top spot after positive start in UCI Track Champions League
Trinidad and Tobago’s cycling star Nicholas Paul is looking to capitalize on his promising start to the 2024 UCI Track Champions League as he heads into the second and third rounds in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, starting Friday.
Paul showcased his sprinting prowess in the opening round held in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, France, finishing third in the men’s sprint and fifth in the keirin.
Competing against the world’s best, including Australian champion Matthew Richardson and Dutch world record holder Harrie Lavreysen, Paul has positioned himself third in the overall standings after round one—a foundation he’s eager to build on.
“It’s a League with five rounds. Finishing third in the overall standings after the first round is definitely a great start where I can build from. I am very comfortable going into the second and third rounds. My goal is to keep putting out better performances every round, one round at a time,” Paul told SportsMax.TV.
The 26-year-old’s third-place finish in the sprint event came against fierce competition as Richardson took top honours, while Lavreysen, the reigning Olympic champion and flying 200m world record holder had to settle for second.
Paul’s tactical sharpness and raw speed ensured he stayed in the mix, ahead of the likes of Colombia’s Cristian Ortega and Richardson’s compatriot Leigh Hoffman.
In the keirin, Paul faced another tough field, securing fifth place behind Richardson, Lavreysen, Colombia’s Kevin Quintero, and Ortega.
That race demonstrated the unpredictable nature of keirin cycling, but Paul remains determined to refine his tactics as the League progresses. In fact, beyond the individual prestige that improved performances bring in his career, the soft-spoken cyclist views it as an opportunity to showcase the quality and talent that Trinidad and Tobago is known for on the world stage.
“Racing doesn’t always go as planned. However, looking forward, there are a few areas I will pay more attention to tactically as I go through each round because my overall ambition is always to put my best foot forward, striving to get in the top spot for my country,” he noted.
Paul now turns his attention to the velodrome in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, where rounds two and three will be held on consecutive days. The League format remains consistent, with sprinters like Paul competing in the sprint and keirin events, accumulating points across all five rounds.
The UCI Track Champions League features 72 elite riders—18 in each category (men’s and women’s sprint and endurance)—vying for points to determine the champions. With one round completed in France, rounds two and three will unfold in Apeldoorn, while London is set to host rounds four and five, ensuring high-stakes racing at every stage.
For Paul, who has won numerous medals at the World Championships, Pan American Championships, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, this season represents a chance to further cement his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
“I am pleased with all I have been able to accomplish so far, but there are always more targets to aim at and more goals to achieve. So it’s all a work in progress, my plan is to build on this performance and to do so, I intend to keep putting in those hard hours to keep getting stronger and faster,” the two-time Olympian stated.
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