Pierre Latour started the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes as one of the big favourites for the win, but ended it in the hospital with a fractured forearm and his Tour de France at risk.
The TotalEnergies rider finished Étoile de Bessèges in fourth place and the Tour de la Provence in fifth. Although he has shown tremendous capacity in his all-rounder abilities, his inconsistency in the mountains saw him fall out of the Paris-Nice podium in the last days of the race. Last month at Itzulia Basque Country he was inside the Top10 when he crashed out of contention - and later the race. His latest crash comes as another hit for the Frenchman, who was set to start the Critérium du Dauphiné this weekend.
His presence at the Tour de France, where Peter Sagan and Anthony Turgis are also set to ride, is now uncertain too. Whilst there is still a month left to the start of the team's main objective of the season, his preparation will with no doubt take a hit.
Alexis Vuillermoz and Edvald Boasson Hagen will be between the riders covering for Latour in the coming week, as the team seek to gather a stage win on home roads.
😔 Pierre Latour souffre d’une fracture non déplacée du radius. Il est donc forfait pour le Critérium du Dauphiné. Un bilan sera effectué dans quelques semaines avec l’encadrement médical du Team pour déterminer une date de retour à la compétition. Bon rétablissement Pierro ♥️
