Chris Froome suffered a life-threatening injury to his heart in a crash, alongside a broken back and ribs.
The four-time Tour de France champion was airlifted to hospital last Wednesday after he collided with a road sign at more than 30mph.
Initially, Israel–Premier Tech, Froome’s team, reported that he had sustained a collapsed lung, five broken ribs and a lumbar vertebrae fracture. However, during surgery, doctors discovered the 40-year-old Briton had sustained a pericardial rupture, which is a tear to the sac that surrounds the heart and is usually the result of a blunt impact.
“It was obviously a lot more serious than some broken bones,” Michelle Froome, his wife, told The Times. “He’s fine but it’s going to be a long recovery process.”
Chris Froome’s surgery took place at the Sainte Anne Toulon military hospital, which is the highest-level trauma centre in the region and specialises in thoracic surgery.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Froome remained conscious after the crash and was able to speak to those around him.
Froome, who is out of a contract for the end of the year, previously suggested 2025 could be his final year of competitive racing – and the crash could bring an end to his professional career.
“He won’t be riding a bike for a while. Chris is happy for you to share this because people need to understand what is going on,” said Michelle Froome.
Froome is one of the world's most decorated professional cyclists. He has won a total of seven Grand Tours. He won his first Tour de France title in 2013, followed by consecutive victories in 2015–2017. He has also won one edition of the Giro d’Italia and two editions of the Vuelta a España.
Froome suffered a heavy crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2019, which saw him taken into intensive care.
