Chris Froome out of Tour de France after crashing on Dauphine course
Bengaluru: Britain's four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome is out of the 2019 race after a heavy crash on the Criterium du Dauphine course on Wednesday, Team Ineos manager Dave Brailsford said.
Froome, 34, was taken to a local hospital after hitting a wall at high speed during a course reconnaissance of the 26.1 km individual time trial around Roanne in central France, with Brailsford suspecting his star rider had broken a bone.
"It's a very serious accident. Clearly, he won't be at the start of the Tour de France. It'll take quite a long time before he races again," Brailsford told French television.
"He's badly injured ... it sounds like a fracture of the femur. We're trying to manage that and make sure he gets the best care. The next hour, hour and a half is crucial.
"He crashed in the downhill section of the course at high speed. He hit a wall. The ambulance came quickly, he's been taken care of and is waiting for a helicopter to be transferred to Lyon or Saint-Etienne."
Six-times grand tour winner Froome was competing in the Criterium du Dauphine to prepare for the Tour de France, which begins on July 6.
Froome, alongside teammate and defending champion Geraint Thomas, was one of the favourites for the Tour de France.
Reuters