Chris Froome sustained not only multiple fractures but also a life-threatening heart injury in his serious crash during training in France. His wife Michelle told the British newspaper The Times, "It was clearly much more severe than just a few broken bones."
Exactly a week ago, Froome was involved in a serious training accident near Toulon, not far from Monaco, where the 40-year-old Brit lives. The four-time Tour winner was badly hurt in the crash but remained conscious and was immediately taken to the hospital in Toulon.
After several medical scans at the hospital, initially a collapsed lung, five broken ribs, and a lumbar vertebra fracture were diagnosed, but there was more going on. The Israel-Premier Tech rider also suffered a tear in his pericardium during the fall. This was only discovered during surgery, which was otherwise successful.
Long rehabilitation
According to his wife, Froome was lucky that the military hospital Saint Anne Toulon—where he was taken after the accident—is the most advanced trauma center in the region for heart surgeries. "Chris is doing well now, but recovery will take a long time; he won’t be able to ride for a while."
Froome will definitely not compete again this year, and it remains uncertain if we will ever see him back in the pro peloton. His contract with Israel-Premier Tech runs until the end of 2025, and he had previously hinted that he would retire after this year.
Christopher Froome| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 |
