Trouble found cycling legend Chris Froome once more this week. He was out training near Saint-Raphaël, France, on Wednesday when a vehicle struck him. The crash was serious. He needed to be airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Toulon, according to reports from the French newspaper L’Équipe.
The 40-year-old rider, who races for Israel-PremierTech, is a four-time Tour de France champion. Thankfully, he was conscious after the impact. He even managed to talk with his team members, according to the same French sports newspaper.
Froome’s Instagram account later shared an update. The post confirmed his transport to a Toulon hospital yesterday afternoon. It called the incident a “serious accident.” The good news is he’s stable and avoided head injuries. However, scans showed a pneumothorax, which affects the lung. He also has five broken ribs and a fractured lumbar vertebra in his back. Doctors planned surgery for him later today.
This latest injury adds to a long list for the British star. He hasn’t won a race since 2018. That’s because he never fully got back to his best form. This struggle followed a massive crash in 2019. Before the Critérium du Dauphiné, he fractured a leg, several ribs, and an elbow. That accident happened during reconnaissance for a time trial event. It stopped his career momentum cold.