"Julian Alaphilippe, in a hasty and unfortunate move, dashed ahead to claim victory in the Tour de France stage 15, only to later discover he had dislocated his shoulder and prematurely celebrated the triumph."
Julian Alaphilippe's Dramatic Ride in the 2025 Tour de France
In an unexpected turn of events during Stage 15 of the 2025 Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe, affectionately known as Loulou, found himself embroiled in a crash early in the stage. The incident led to a dislocated shoulder, but the resilient cyclist managed to pop it back in himself and continued racing.
Despite the injury, Alaphilippe's determination saw him cross the finish line in Carcassonne, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Tim Wellens had secured the stage win with a solo ride, finishing more than a minute ahead of the pack. In a moment of high emotion, Alaphilippe celebrated as if he had won, raising his arms in victory.
However, it was later revealed that Wellens had clinched the stage victory, leaving Alaphilippe's celebration premature. Despite this setback, Alaphilippe managed to hold on for a third-place finish, an incredible performance considering the circumstances.
Victor Campenaerts finished second in the stage, while Tudor Pro Cycling, Alaphilippe's team, did not win a stage in their maiden Tour de France. The team's CEO, Raphael Meyer, expressed his pride in Alaphilippe's performance and hoped that the rest day would give him enough peace and quiet to start again on Tuesday.
Alaphilippe's crash and the malfunctioning radio made communication difficult, but he spoke to a small number of journalists after the race about his day of high emotions. The cyclist had hoped he would never repeat the mistake of celebrating a win that wasn't his, as he did in the 2020 Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Despite the pain and the incident, if his shoulder doesn't cause him too much discomfort, Alaphilippe is likely to animate the race when it gets into the Alps next week. Loulou has been a part of three breakaways in the 2025 Tour de France and will undoubtedly continue to be a force to reckon with in the remaining stages.
Sports enthusiasts worldwide watched in awe as Julian Alaphilippe, despite his dislocated shoulder, bravely raced in the sports event, the Tour de France. His relentless determination led him to finish third in Stage 15, a testament to his love and dedication to cycling sports.
