Jake Stewart ruled out of Tour of Flanders due to hand fracture caused by collision with Nacer Bouhanni
The British rider was forced towards the barriers by the French rider who has since apologised


Jake Stewart has been ruled out of this year's Tour of Flanders due to a hand fracture caused by the collision between him and former French champion Nacer Bouhanni at the Cholet-Pays de la Loire on Sunday (March 28).
Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) has had an incredible start to his first full season as a WorldTour rider with some top results, including a second place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad behind the on-form Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).
The 21-year-old British rider was down to be one of the protected riders at the Tour of Flanders alongside the likes of French and Swiss champions Arnaud Démare and Stefan Küng but a collision with Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) was enough to end that hope.
A Tweet sent out by Groupama-FDJ said: "Jake Stewart is not able to take part in his 2nd Tour of Flanders on Sunday as he suffers from a fractured left hand due to the collision in the final sprint in Cholet-Pays de la Loire."
The British rider quoted the Tweet soon after, sharing his disappointment to miss his first chance to ride a Monument.
"We thought and was hoping that it was just superficial, but this morning's x-ray showed a fractured second metacarpal after Sunday's Cholet-Pays de la Loire. Gutted to say the least to be missing De Ronde this week, but full focus now for recovering and getting back on the bike."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The collision happened in the closing 200 metres of the race with Elia Viviani (Cofidis) launching his sprint. Stewart had made it onto the Italian's wheel but Bouhanni reacted quickly to try and get into Viviani's slipstream, claiming he did not know Stewart was there.
Bouhanni then said he counterbalanced to avoid falling pushing Stewart towards the barriers, which he amazingly managed to avoid, but the impact was enough to cause the fracture.
The Arkéa-Samsic rider has since apologised through a team press release where he said how he was sorry for what happened but that it was not intentional.
The UCI has called for an investigation into Bouhanni to take place to decide what sanctions are needed to be put on the rider.
This comes after a lot of focus has been put on how sprints take place due to the awful crash between Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) with the latter getting a nine-month suspension from racing.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
-
How to watch the Amstel Gold Race 2025: Everything you need to live stream the Dutch Classic
All the broadcast information for the first of the Ardennes Classics on 20 April with Tom Pidcock – here's how to watch Amstel Gold Race online and on TV.
By Adam Becket
-
Can you make a living as an American domestic road racer? A look inside the part-time professionalism of the American road peloton
After decades of booms and busts, the American road scene finds itself in a fragile place. We spoke to riders to understand the reality of chasing the dream on home soil
By Logan Jones-Wilkins
-
Professional riders need more protection from mindless 'fans' at major races to avoid another Mathieu van der Poel Paris-Roubaix bottle incident
Cycling's authorities must do everything within their power to prevent spectators from assaulting riders
By Tom Thewlis
-
British team blocked from competing in key Spring Classics
Hess Cycling not invited to Amstel Gold Race
By Tom Thewlis
-
'Once we were four, I was really confident about winning' - Tenacious Lotte Kopecky hangs in at Tour of Flanders for victory
The Belgian isn't interested in making history, but is just doing so accidentally
By Adam Becket
-
'It's scary to see how much better he is' - Tadej Pogačar conquers all at the Tour of Flanders
The world champion won by a minute after a decisive attack on the Oude Kwaremont
By Adam Becket
-
Tadej Pogačar must attack from range at the Tour of Flanders - taking Mathieu van der Poel to the line is not an option
Slovenian must look to replicate his Oude Kwaremont attack from 2023 if he wants to guarantee being first across the line in Oudenaarde
By Tom Thewlis
-
Mathieu van der Poel surges to E3 Saxo Classic victory after dropping Mads Pedersen on the Oude Kwaremont
Dutchman untouchable in West Flanders after distancing Pedersen and Filippo Ganna on decisive climb
By Tom Thewlis
-
'Flanders is a race that demands a complete cyclist' - Neilson Powless aims for the Ronde in key month
The American is set to ride Paris-Nice before taking on the Tour of Flanders and the Ardennes Classics
By Tom Thewlis
-
Elisa Longo Borghini pips Kasia Niewiadoma on the line to win second Tour of Flanders
In-form Italian praises Lidl-Trek team after repeating feat she achieved in 2015
By Tom Davidson