High-speed fall forces Philipsen out of Tour de France

Dunkirk: The winner of the Tour de France's opening stage Jasper Philipsen was forced to pull out of the 21-day race on Monday after a gruesome high-speed fall.

Philipsen and the other fast men were contesting an intermediate sprint 60km from the Dunkirk finish-line of stage three when other riders swerved in front of him during a 70 kph dash.

The fall ripped the green best sprinter's jersey from Philipsen's back as he slid along the road, emerging with both shoulders badly grazed.

The Belgian's teammates stopped to help him, but were soon told by the Alpecin team to continue on their way as they realised the extent of the 27-year-old's injuries.

Philipsen won the 2023 green jersey as best sprinter on that edition of the Tour, and has ten career victories in the race.