Chris Froome[1] is ‘lucky to be alive’ following a crash that saw him hit a road sign and tear his heart while training.
The four-time Tour de France[2] winner was airlifted to hospital in France on Thursday[3] after the incident, which saw him clip a kerb, hit a road sign at 30mph and resulted in a collapsed lung, a break in his back and five broken ribs.
Froome, 40, was flown to hospital in Toulon and underwent surgery on the same day, with his cycling career on the line.
A statement from Froome’s team last week read: ‘Chris was airlifted to hospital in Toulon yesterday afternoon following a serious training crash (no other vehicles or cyclists were involved).
‘Fortunately, his condition is stable and he 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.’
While initial scans revealed the extent of the injuries he suffered, Froome’s wife of nearly 11 years, Michelle, has revealed that he also suffered a dangerous blow to the heart which was only discovered during surgery.
Chris Froome is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being involved in a training crash last week, his wife Michelle has revealed
Froome, 40, flew into a road sign at 30mph after a crash in France last Thursday
After telling ITV that he was lucky to still have his life, Michelle told The Times[4] that doctors found Froome has suffered a pericardial rupture, which sees the sac that surrounds the heart torn and usually happens after an incident involving blunt trauma such as a road accident.
Michelle, who has two children with Froome – Kellan, 9 and Katie, 7 – also thanked the staff at the Sainte Anne Toulon military hospital, which is the highest level trauma centre for the area and specialises in thoracic surgery.
She added: ‘It was obviously a lot more serious than some broken bones. He’s fine but it’s going to be a long recovery process. He won’t be riding a bike for a while. Chris is happy for you to share this because people need to understand what is going on.’
Froome, who lives in Monaco, was riding near Saint-Raphael, in the south of France, when he fell, according to a report by French outlet L’Equipe[5].
Froome was conscious and communicating with people around him while being airlifted. He did not hit his head in the accident but is now expected to miss the remainder of the cycling season.
Following surgery, a statement from his team read on Friday: ‘We can confirm that Chris has successfully undergone surgery following his recent injuries.
‘The procedures went as planned, and Chris is currently recovering in hospital under the care of his medical team.
‘He is in good spirits and grateful for the excellent medical support he has received. Chris and his family would like to thank fans, friends and cycling community for their concern and kind messages during this time.’
A statement a day after the crash read that Froome was ‘in good spirits’ as he and Michelle thanked medical staff
The Briton’s contract at the Israel-Premier Tech team runs out at the end of the year, and the crash follows on from a broken collarbone that he sustained at the UAE tour in February.
With no plans to sign a new deal on the horizon, Froome’s 18-year professional riding career has been cast into doubt.
Earlier this month, he was asked by bici.PRO[6] what the future holds in terms of his career. His response was coy: ‘My contract is expiring and I don’t know if I’ll continue or not,’ Froome told the website.
He then revealed that he has plans to grow the sport of cycling in Africa, his home continent, having been born in Kenya in 1985.
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Froome secured his first Tour de France title in 2013 before securing three of the following four titles. He hasn’t won a major tour since 2018, when he raced for Team Sky, triumphing at Giro d’Italia for the first and only time.
The British rider has seemingly never recovered from breaking his femur in a high-speed crash in the midst of the 2019 Tour de France.
Following the crash, which kept him out for eight months, he became part of the Israel-Premier Tech team.
The two-time Olympic medallist felt that he had been handed a ‘second chance’ to return to the ‘sport I love’.
References
- ^ Chris Froome (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Tour de France (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ was airlifted to hospital in France on Thursday (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Times (www.thetimes.com)
- ^ according to a report by French outlet L’Equipe (www.lequipe.fr)
- ^ asked by bici.PRO (bici.pro)