Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is “in good spirits” after surgery following a serious crash which left him with multiple injuries.
The 40-year-old Briton was airlifted to hospital on Wednesday after sustaining five broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a lumbar vertebrae fracture in the training crash in southern France.
In a statement on Friday, Froome’s team Israel-Premier Tech said he was recovering in hospital after surgery.
“We can confirm that Chris has successfully undergone surgery following his recent injuries. The procedures went as planned, and Chris is currently recovering in hospital under the care of his medical team,” the team said.
“He is in good spirits and grateful for the excellent medical support he has received. Chris and his family would like to thank fans, friends, and the cycling community for their concern and kind messages during this time.”
Froome is one of the most decorated cyclists in history.
He has won seven Grand Tours, including one Giro d’Italia and two Vuelta a Espana titles alongside his Tour de France triumphs.
He earned the first of his four Tour victories in 2013, before winning three successive titles between 2015 and 2017.
Only four men – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain – have won more Tour de France titles.
Froome won two Olympic bronze medals in the individual time trial in 2012 and 2016, and was made an OBE for his services to cycling in 2015.
The Briton, who is out of contract at the end of the year, is expected to miss the remainder of the season with his injuries.
In 2019, Froome was ruled out of the Tour de France, having been placed in intensive care after sustaining multiple injuries when he crashed into a wall in training.
Froome has previously suggested that 2025 could be his final year of competitive racing.
