Chris Froome has been airlifted to hospital after suffering a collapsed lung and breaking his back and five ribs during a training crash in France. The four-time Tour de France winner’s team confirmed he would undergo surgery in Toulon on Thursday, following the incident on Wednesday.
Israel-Premier Tech, Froome's team, stated the 40-year-old is now stable and that no one else was involved in the crash. “Fortunately, Chris is stable and did not sustain any head injuries, however, scans have confirmed a pneumothorax, five broken ribs, and a lumbar vertebrae fracture, for which he will undergo surgery this afternoon,” a statement read.
This is the second serious training crash in Froome's career. In 2019, he was left in intensive care after a freak accident during the Critérium du Dauphiné, fracturing his right femur, hip, elbow, and ribs. Froome admitted he was “lucky to be alive” after that incident.
The rider, who is out of contract at the end of the year, is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to his injuries. Froome has won the Tour de France in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, as well as the Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia.
