Tour de France sprint favorite Jasper Philipsen out of race after crashing on stage three

Sprinter Jasper Philipsen, of Alpecin-Deceuninck, crashed out of the Tour de France on Monday just two days after he took the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Sprinter Jasper Philipsen, of Alpecin-Deceuninck, crashed out of the Tour de France on Monday just two days after he took the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Philipsen, the Belgian powerhouse, slammed to the ground in the intermediate sprint with just under 37 miles remaining in stage three. Green jersey in tatters and back covered in angry red road burns, he struggled to stand and gingerly bent his right arm.

He was taken away on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace.

Soudal–Quick-Step’s Tim Merlier eked out a photo finish against Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan of Lidl–Trek to win the stage.

Alpecin-Deceuninck said on social media that a preliminary hospital diagnosis revealed a fractured collarbone and at least one broken rib. Philipsen will most likely require surgery, it said.