The Tour de France lost one more overall contender on stage 16, with Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) suffering a high-speed crash in a turn in the final kilometres.
The German, fifth overall, was second-fastest at the third time check and nearing the finish when he lost traction in a right turn and crashed hard.
After a long wait, Lipowitz finally emerged clutching his arm in a telltale sign of a possible collarbone fracture.
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The team later confirmed the break.
“Florian Lipowitz suffered a broken collarbone in his crash during today’s individual time trial at the Tour de France,” the team announced via press release.
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“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.
“The entire team stands firmly behind Florian and will support him every step of the way. Our full focus is now on his recovery.”
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Lipowitz follows second-placed Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who crashed and broke his collarbone on stage 15, on the sidelines for the final week.
It was a day of mixed fortunes for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, who won the stage with Remco Evenepoel. The world time trial champion smashed the 26.1-kilometre test from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains, gaining 28 seconds on the maillot jaune.
The loss of Lipowitz denies Red Bull the tactical advantage of having two highly placed riders in the overall standings.
“I’ve just been told that my teammate Lipowitz crashed, so that is very unfortunate,” Evenepoel said after his stage win. “It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory. I wish him all the best and I hope he is not too bad.
“I will really miss him for for the last week.”
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