Florian Lipowitz out of 2026 Tour de France after crash in time trial as Stage 16 winner Remco Evenepoel admits: 'It's a bittersweet pill to swallow'

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Florian Lipowitz is out of the 2026 Tour de France after crashing heavily on Stage 16 on Tuesday. This year's race has lost another major general classification contender after Lipowitz's abandonment following the high-speed crash during the individual time trial which left him with a broken collarbone.

Watch: Nasty fall sees Lipowitz crash out of the Tour

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider entered the stage fifth overall, 6'48" behind yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and just 25 seconds behind Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) in fourth.

Lipowitz finished third in the 2025 Tour de France, and the German was enjoying a strong performance and was among the fastest riders at the intermediate checkpoints on Tuesday.

However, his hopes of a strong finish in the 26.1-kilometre test from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains ended in dramatic fashion when he lost control on a right-hand corner in the closing kilometres.

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Lipowitz slid across the road before striking the barrier and remained on the ground for several moments, appearing to be in significant discomfort while clutching his shoulder.

After eventually getting back up, the 25-year-old was escorted to the medical vehicle and later taken away on a stretcher, bringing his Tour campaign to an abrupt end.

Red Bull announced later on Tuesday that Lipowitz had suffered a broken collarbone in the crash.

"After so many unforgettable moments and his outstanding performances over the past two weeks, this marks a bitterly premature end to his 2026 Tour de France," the team wrote on X.

The crash represents another major setback for the overall contenders, coming just two days after Jonas Vingegaard was ruled out of contention following a broken collarbone on Stage 15.

Lipowitz's withdrawal also deprives Red Bull of a valuable tactical option in the final week.

It was nevertheless a day of contrasting emotions for the German team, who celebrated victory on the stage through Remco Evenepoel.

The world time trial champion delivered a dominant performance on the Alpine course, taking 28 seconds back on the race leader Pogacar while his team-mate Lipowitz's Tour hopes came to a painful end.

Florian Lipowitz of Germany and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe injured after falling during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 16 a 26.1km individual time trial stage from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains / #UCIWT / on July 21, 2026 in Thonon-les-Bains, France.

Image credit: Getty Images

Evenepoel: Lipowitz crash bittersweet pill to swallow

Evenepoel expressed his delight at having secured back-to-back stage wins after victory on Sunday, but the Belgian conceded the setback to Lipowitz had taken the shine off his achievement.

"It's amazing," he told reporters. "It was a very nice TT, with lots of people on the side of the road, my whole family from both sides being here. My parents came here just today.

"My wife, her parents, and siblings, and on Belgium's national day, so pretty special. I read this morning that it's been a while since that happened, so I'm proud to be the one.

"I've just been told that Florian Lipowitz crashed so that's very unfortunate, a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory. I wish him all the best and hope it's not too bad.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I need to thank Specialized for all the new material they gave me for this TT, and all the work they've done behind the scenes. To win this TT with such a performance I'm just happy.

"It's unbelievable to take two victories in a row. It's amazing. I was feeling really good. The first few kilometers I was pushing the power, and I was telling myself that I needed to hold back. But Tadej was also very impressive.

"He was always close to me, and it was a big challenge to keep my gap to him. I'm just super happy with everything that happened today, but it's also a shame that Lipowitz is out now. I will really miss him for the last week.

"Besides that, I need to thank my whole team, my family. It's been a while since I've been at this level. It feels amazing to be in this shape for the Tour, but there's still a long way to go. We cannot forget that. It's no secret that the hardest stages are at the end.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I wasn't perfect in the first week - I was good but not amazing. I needed the first week to get into the race rhythm again, but it's not over yet. A very beautiful but still a few hard and beautiful stages to come before Paris.

"I'm just focused on my own spot for now. Tadej is on his way to winning a fifth Tour de France. It's just amazing that I can be a bit close to him, and an honor to race with him. He's the best ever. I try to learn from him."