Chris Froome 'relieved' to leave hospital after severe crash

Chris Froome has been discharged from hospital following his heavy training crash in southern France last week.

The four-time Tour de France winner was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after sustaining five broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a lumbar vertebrae fracture in a training crash near Saint-Raphaël.

It was later revealed that Froome had also suffered a pericardial rupture – a tear to the sac that surrounds the heart – an injury that was described as life-threatening. 

“It was obviously a lot more serious than some broken bones,” his wife Michelle Froome told The Times. “He’s fine but it’s going to be a long recovery process. He won’t be riding a bike for a while.”

On Friday evening, Froome posted a photograph of himself walking out of hospital accompanied by his daughter.

“Relieved to be heading home from the hospital today,” Froome wrote. “Thanks to the staff at the HIA Sainte Anne.”

Froome, who turned 40 in May, will not race again this season and it is not yet clear if last month’s Tour de Pologne will prove to be the final race of his professional career. His five-year contract with Israel-Premier Tech expires at the end of this year.