Julian Alaphilippe sustained extensive injuries in a mass crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and three weeks later he will be able to return to the bike after exams shown that his pneumothorax has fully healed.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team have issued a press release in which they announced the World champion is cleared to return to training, five week before the start of the Tour de France in Copenhagen. "His condition will continue to be monitored before any further decisions and a program for his return to racing is decided on," the Belgian team said.
Albeit slowly, Alaphilippe's possible preparation for the Tour has begun, with the team stating: "These examinations have revealed that the pneumothorax that he suffered as a result of the crash three weeks ago has completely healed, meaning that Julian is now able to resume light training on a set of Tacx rollers."
On a recent column at Het Nieuwsblad, team manager Patrick Lefevere has shared that there is intent on having him recover form towards the French race: "We will do everything we can, but it will be a race against time. If, in the most favorable case, he is back on his bike in mid-May, he still has six weeks." More updates should come soon regarding his evolution. At the time being he is not scheduled to race before the Tour de France, but that is likely to change if he finds form necessary to take to the start.
