Chris Froome, evacuated by helicopter and hospitalized after an accident in France

The British cyclist Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech) was evacuated by helicopter to the hospital in Toulon after a serious fall during training in the south of France. The team confirmed that the cyclist is stable and did not suffer head injuries, but tests have detected pneumothorax, five broken ribs, and a lumbar fracture, so he will undergo surgery in the coming hours. The team clarified that no other cyclists or vehicles were involved in the incident.

Four-time Tour winner Chris Froome seriously injured while training

According to L'Équipe, Froome remained conscious after the accident and was able to communicate with the attending staff. Pending official confirmation after surgery, everything points to the rider missing the rest of the season.

His team, Israel-Premier Tech, detailed that the four-time Tour winner was urgently transferred and that, despite the severity of the injuries, his condition is stable.

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Froome, who turned 40 this season, last raced in early August at the Tour de Pologne, where he finished 68th. His contract expires at the end of the year and he had already indicated that this could be his last season as a professional cyclist.

Winner of the Tour de France in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, as well as the Vuelta a España in 2017 and the Giro d'Italia in 2018, Froome suffered a serious accident in 2019 that marked a turning point in his career. This accident will once again test his ability to come back, but it seems that the decision about his sporting future may have been made for some time.