Chris Froome to keep cycling for Israeli team at Tour de France despite crash
PERROS-GUIREC, France — Battered and bruised, Chris Froome will keep racing at the Tour de France.
After being caught in a high-speed crash during the opening stage, the four-time champion said he will be on the starting line of Sunday’s Stage 2 between Perros-Guirec and Mur-De-Bretagne in the western Brittany region.
Froome underwent scans that did not reveal any fractures after spending Saturday evening in the hospital.
“Just a lot of swelling, a lot of bruising, so I’m pretty sore this morning,” he said, adding that he hurt his left leg and chest.
Froome has been trying to rediscover his form since a career-threatening crash in 2019. Back on the Tour de France after a three-year absence, he is competing for the Israel Start-Up Nation team, riding in support of team leader Michael Woods.
He lost nearly 15 minutes to race leader Julian Alaphilippe and has no personal ambition in the general classification.
A fan holding a cardboard sign caused a massive crash at the Tour de France, taking down dozens of cyclists at the famed race. https://t.co/mHdA2poJiXpic.twitter.com/5HkO2iLQoJ
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 26, 2021
Saturday’s opening stage was marred by two massive pileups involving several dozen riders.
“That was definitely a bit of a crazy stage,” Froome said.
In addition to his four Tour titles, the 36-year-old Froome has also won the Spanish Vuelta twice and the Giro d’Italia.