Frenchman Alaphilippe was around 22 miles from the finish at the Tour of Flanders in Belgium when disaster struck as he broke away with Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

After his rivals edged out of the slipstream of the motorbike, Alaphilippe had hardly any time to react as his front wheel hit the back of the vehicle.

That sent the luckless Deceuninck–Quick-Step rider hurtling towards the ground as his bike flipped sickeningly up into the air, hitting the deck at speed in a shocking end to his challenge.

After initially sprawling on the road, the downed Alaphilippe attempted to rise to his feet while officials tried to help him.

He soon realized the extent of his injuries, which appeared to have been caused to his wrist and collarbone, and could be heard screaming in pain as a medic arrived at the scene.

Speaking to Eurosport, who reported that Alaphilippe had broken his collarbone, former world number one Sean Kelly said the speed of the motorbike could have surprised him.

"The motorbikes were slowing a bit, going slower than the riders," observed Kelly.