German's Lipowitz back at home after Tour de France crash surgery

Florian Lipowitz has returned home after undergoing surgery on a collarbone fracture the German rider sustained in a crash at the Tour de France, team manager Ralph Denk has said.

>"he is at home again. He is following the race, texting us. We are in contact," Red Bull-Bora hansgrohe manager Denk said after the 19th stage in Alpe d'Huez.

>Lipowitz crashed in a turn during Tuesday's time trial and had to withdraw from the Tour. He was fifth in the overall standings at the time and had the chance to make the final podium like last year, when he finished third.

>Denk said that he expects Lipowitz to return before the end of the season, possibly for autumn one day classics such as Il Lombardia on October 10.

>He is not expected to be fit in time for the Spanish Vuelta starting on August 22 or the world championships in Montreal from September 20.