British cycling legend Chris Froome has been airlifted to a hospital in Toulon, France, after suffering a serious training crash on Wednesday, leaving his future in professional cycling hanging in the balance.
Froome’s Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) team released a statement confirming that the 40-year-old four-time Tour de France winner sustained multiple severe injuries and is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon.
“Chris Froome was airlifted to hospital in Toulon yesterday afternoon following a serious training crash,” IPT said in a statement shared on Froome’s social media. “No other cyclists or vehicles were involved. 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. We will update on Chris’ condition following surgery.”
The horrific crash comes just weeks after Froome’s last competitive outing at the Tour de Pologne earlier this month. One of the most decorated riders of his generation, Froome has won the Tour de France four times and claimed his last Grand Tour victory at the 2018 Giro d’Italia. His current contract with IPT expires at the end of the season, and given his age and the severity of his injuries, many believe this could mark the end of his storied professional career.
This is not Froome’s first devastating accident. In 2019, he suffered life-threatening injuries during a reconnaissance ride at the Criterium du Dauphiné, breaking his pelvis, femur, four ribs, and an elbow. Despite a long recovery and a move from INEOS Grenadiers to IPT, he has struggled to regain his previous form at the top level of the sport.
The timing of Froome’s crash adds to a turbulent week for Israel-Premier Tech. On Wednesday, stage six of the Vuelta a España was disrupted when pro-Palestine protestors stretched a banner across the road, forcing IPT’s riders to stop during the team time trial. Earlier in the week, the team was also rocked by Canadian climbing star Derek Gee’s shock announcement that he had terminated his contract with IPT, citing “certain issues” that made it impossible for him to continue. The team disputes this, maintaining that Gee’s contract remains valid until 2028.
Froome is now awaiting surgery, and updates on his condition are expected following the procedure. Fans and fellow riders around the world have flooded social media with well-wishes, hoping for a full recovery.