Vauquelin fractures his ankle in ‘domestic accident’

After finishing as the top French rider in the Tour de France, Kévin Vauquelin has fractured the distal head of his fibula. The French star sustained the injury in what his Arkéa-B&B Hotels team described as a domestic accident, saying they were unsure how long he would be out of racing.

Only 24, Vauquelin was one of the revelations of this year’s Tour, finishing seventh overall after moving into the top 10 on stage two and taking the white jersey of best young rider, which he wore for three days, eventually finishing third in that classification. His best result during the Tour was fifth in the stage five time trial into Caen and, as the race travelled around the country, he was feted at every stage.

Vauquelin had been scheduled to ride this year’s Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa on Saturday, though that is now out of the question, with his team saying they do not yet know when he will return to action.

Vauquelin is another name on the long list of young, talented French riders tipped as the country’s next big thing. Last year, he won stage two of the Tour into Bologna with a solo breakaway, and this year he’s claimed stage race victories at the Étoile de Bessèges and the Région de la Pays de la Loire. His Arkéa-B&B Hotels team are currently searching for new sponsorship, but such is Vauquelin’s talent that he has, perhaps inevitably, been linked with a move abroad, with Daniel Benson suggesting Ineos Grenadiers as a likely destination.

A fracture of the distal fibula head is one of the most common types of ankle fractures. The team will issue an update when more information about Vauquelin’s condition becomes available.