Florian Lipowitz crashes out of Tour de France after TT fall
German cycling star Florian Lipowitz has abandoned the Tour de France after a heavy crash in Tuesday's individual time trial. The 25-year-old Red Bull rider, last year's overall third-place finisher, hit his shoulder hard on a curb and was taken away by ambulance, ending his race near the finish of stage 16.
Key Takeaways
- Florian Lipowitz crashed during the 26-kilometer individual time trial from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains and abandoned the Tour.
- The German, who finished third overall in 2025, was fifth in the general classification before the stage.
- He could not get up unaided and left by ambulance holding his arm and shoulder.
- Teammate Remco Evenepoel won the stage by 28 seconds over race leader Tadej Pogacar.
- Lipowitz is the second podium contender out after Jonas Vingegaard crashed out on Sunday.
What happened to Florian Lipowitz in the Tour time trial?
According to Der Spiegel, Florian Lipowitz entered a corner at high speed on stage 16's only individual time trial, then his front wheel slipped away. He hit the asphalt hard and struck a curb with his shoulder.
BILD reported that the Swabian was carried too wide in a right-hand bend, slid, and slammed into the roadside curb. He could not stand up on his own, was strapped to a stretcher, and taken to hospital by ambulance. Before the crash, he had been gaining time on rivals for third place, Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas.
Why does Florian Lipowitz abandoning the Tour matter?
Lipowitz was a German podium hope and Red Bull co-captain alongside Evenepoel. His exit removes another overall contender in the final week, after Vingegaard left the race following a Sunday crash that, per Austrian outlet oe24, left the Dane with a broken collarbone.
Pogacar remains in the yellow jersey, 4:32 ahead of Evenepoel. Spiegel listed Isaac del Toro third, 6:51 behind the Slovenian. Three hard Alpine stages still remain before Paris. For more celebrity and sports breaking coverage, see BlasterPost Celebrity Breaking News.
What did Evenepoel and Pogacar say after the crash?
Evenepoel called the win bittersweet. "I have heard that Florian crashed. I am very sorry. I hope he gets better soon," he said, per BILD. Spiegel quoted him wishing Lipowitz a speedy recovery and noting the crash left a bitter taste.
Pogacar also expressed concern. He said he hoped "Lipo" was okay and that race organization cars ahead of him made the same corner hard to see, adding he nearly crashed there himself.
Evenepoel beat Pogacar by 28 seconds on the Lake Geneva course, the first Belgian stage win on Belgium's national day in 41 years, BILD reported. Red Bull's aim remains a podium finish in Paris, with Evenepoel 2:39 clear of fourth-placed Seixas before the Alpine trilogy.