Chris Froome airlifted to hospital after serious crash in France

Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has been hospitalised with multiple injuries following a crash in southern France, Sport360NG reports.

The 40-year-old was airlifted by helicopter on Wednesday after the incident near Toulon, around 170km (105 miles) from his home in Monaco.

His team, Israel-Premier Tech, confirmed the crash was “serious” but said Froome was stable and had not suffered any head trauma. Medical scans later revealed five fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken lumbar vertebra. He is due to undergo back surgery on Thursday.

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Froome was conscious on arrival at hospital and able to communicate with doctors. No other riders were involved in the crash.

Froome, one of cycling’s most decorated figures, claimed his first Tour de France crown in 2013 before winning three consecutive titles between 2015 and 2017. Only Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain have more overall victories.

The Briton has also collected two Olympic bronze medals in the time trial (2012 and 2016) and received an OBE for services to cycling in 2015.

Currently out of contract at the end of the year, Froome is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The crash comes six years after a training accident in 2019 that left him in intensive care and forced him to sit out that year’s Tour.

Froome has previously hinted that 2025 may mark the end of his professional racing career.