Julian Alaphilippe was forced to abandon the race after crashing in Cabo de Gata on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España. The accident occurred with 64 km to go, and the world champion left the race in an ambulance.

According to a medical update from Quick Step Alpha Vinyl, doctors confirmed that Alaphilippe had dislocated his right shoulder and that an X-ray showed no fractures.

"As a result, doctors reduced the shoulder. Julien will travel to Belgium on Thursday to undergo additional tests at a hospital in Herental to rule out further damage. At this time, no timetable for recovery has been determined," the team said in a statement.

The crash cast doubt on Alaphilippe's title defense at next month's world championships in Wollongong. Alaphilippe's crash also left red-jerseyed Lemco Evenpoel as one of five Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl teammates to support him for the remainder of the Vuelta.

Alaphilippe was leading the peloton with Evenpoel and the rest of the Quick-Step-Alfa Vinyl team when he slipped on a right-hand bend. The French rider, sitting on the shoulder of the road holding his right shoulder, quickly realized that the Vuelta was over.

Alaphilippe's arm was placed in a sling and he was admitted to an ambulance. TVE later reported that his collarbone was broken in the accident, but X-rays confirmed that there was no fracture.

Alaphilippe suffered repeated bad luck in 2022. His preparation for the new season was interrupted by illness, and he then suffered two ribs, a fractured scapula, and a punctured lung in a group crash before the Col du Rosier in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

These injuries kept Alaphilippe off the bike for a month and ultimately forced him to miss the Tour de France; his fortunes seemed to turn around when he won the Tour de Wallonie in late July on the summit of the Mulle de Huy, but shortly after that, COVID- 19, he was sidelined by COVID-.

Alaphilippe had played an important role in guarding Evenpoel at the Vuelta, helping him set up the attack on Pico Jano and Les Prelaces in the opening week of the Vuelta, and he wanted to use this race to prepare for the World Championships and Il Lombardia.

"If I can get back to my best level, 100%, at least one day between here and the end of the season, I will be very happy," Alaphilippe said before the Tour of Leuven earlier this month." It is mission accomplished for me."

Alaphilippe is the second Quick-Step Alphavinil rider to abandon the Vuelta since Pieter Serry retired on COVID-19 before stage 9.