Cycling: Bad news for Chris Froome (Ineos) fans. The four-time winner of the Tour de France will not be able to take part in this year's Tour of France. The Brit fell badly while inspecting the course for the time trial of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Froome is believed to have fractured his femur
Of course, the perfectionist Chris Froome (Ineos) wanted to prepare perfectly for the individual time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné today. But a simple inspection of the track turned into a fatal accident. Chris Froome apparently fell badly in Roanne. According to Ineos team boss Dave Brailsford, the Briton has suffered a broken thigh.
Dave Brailsford:
“He was probably at the bottom of the descent and it's obviously quite gusty today. He took his hands off the handlebars to clean his nose and the wind caught his front wheel. He crashed into a wall at around 60km/h and suffered a pretty bad fracture - apparently a femoral fracture, but this has yet to be confirmed at the hospital."
Froome will miss the 2019 Tour de France
Even if the exact diagnosis is still pending, a start in the Tour de France 2019 seems to be ruled out in any case. According to witness statements, the four-time tour winner crashed into a wall at high speed in the final sector of the time trial. After the accident, Chris Froome was immediately helicoptered to Saint Etienne or Lyon hospital. On Tuesday, the Ineos team appointed Chris Froome as tour captain. Now Geraint Thomas will probably be the sole captain of the British racing team.
Dave Brailsford:
"He won't ride the Tour, that's pretty clear."
Team INEOS can confirm that Chris Froome crashed during a recon of stage four of the Criterium du Dauphine today.
He is currently on his way to a local hospital and won't start today's fourth stage.
We will provide a further update in due course. pic.twitter.com/3x3h5BD5cH
- Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) June 12, 2019