"I'm sorry for those who thought I was an alcoholic": Vauquelin explains his fractured fibula after his spectacular Tour

Less than 48 hours after signing the best French performance of the 2025 Tour de France, 7th place overall, Kévin Vauquelin has seen his season come to a sudden halt. The young rider from Arkéa-B&B Hotels has suffered a fractured fibula after a domestic accident.

Kévin Vauquelin: "It wasn't at a party, I swear"

The team's official explanation was that he had been injured in a domestic accident, a story that often hides other causes. But the reality was that Vauquelin injured himself at his home in Normandy while going down stairs with his suitcase.

Faced with a flood of rumors circulating on social media, many of them insinuating that the injury could be related to post-Tour celebrations, Vauquelin himself took to Instagram to clarify the situation with humor:

"Just to be clear: it was while going down the stairs with my suitcase, not at a party. Sorry to those who thought I was an alcoholic!"

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Although the exact recovery time has not been specified, Vauquelin himself has estimated a convalescence of "at least two or three weeks". It is his first fracture and also the first time he has needed crutches.

The injury not only prevented him from participating in the Lisieux criterium, where he appeared on crutches in front of his fans, but now also compromises his presence in the Road World Championships to be held in Kigali (Rwanda) from September 21 to 28. An event that the cyclist had marked on his calendar after establishing himself as one of the great promises of French cycling.

"It's an annoying injury, but it comes right after the Tour, when the body needs rest. I'm going to recover as quickly as possible to be at the start of the World Championships."

He also confirmed that he will speak with national team coach Thomas Voeckler to find out his status within the French squad for both the road race and the time trial.

At 24 years old, Vauquelin has been one of the revelations of the 2025 Tour. A key player in the mountain stages and combative throughout the race, he has managed to win the hearts of French fans, especially during the stages that passed through his native Normandy. His performance has not only boosted his popularity, he himself admitted to gaining over 60,000 followers on Instagram during the Tour, but has also attracted the interest of top WorldTour teams, including Ineos Grenadiers.

For now, his immediate future is tied to Arkéa-B&B Hotels, a team that is also in a financially uncertain situation, waiting to secure a new sponsor for the next season.