Chris Froome Suffers Life-Threatening Heart Injury in Training Crash
Chris Froome, the four-time Tour de France winner, sustained a life-threatening heart injury following a high-speed training crash in southern France last week, his wife Michelle has revealed. The 40-year-old British cyclist collided head-on with a road sign at over 30mph, resulting in five broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a fractured lumbar vertebra.
During surgery at the Sainte-Anne Toulon military hospital, doctors discovered Froome had a pericardial rupture, a tear in the sac surrounding the heart. The injury was successfully repaired, but Michelle Froome emphasized that the incident was far more serious than the visible bone injuries. “He’s fine, but it’s going to be a long recovery process,” she said. “He won’t be riding a bike for a while.”
Froome, who rides for Israel–Premier Tech and is out of contract at the end of 2025, is expected to miss the remainder of the season as he focuses on rehabilitation. This is not the first time the cyclist has faced a major setback; in 2019 he was placed in intensive care after crashing into a wall during training, forcing him to withdraw from the Tour de France.
Widely regarded as one of cycling’s greatest competitors, Froome has won seven Grand Tours, including four Tour de France titles, one Giro d’Italia, and two Vuelta a España crowns. He achieved his first Tour victory in 2013 and then won three consecutive titles from 2015 to 2017. Only four men—Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain—have claimed more Tour de France victories.
In addition to his Grand Tour success, Froome earned two Olympic bronze medals in the individual time trial at the 2012 and 2016 Games and was appointed OBE in 2015 for his services to cycling. Prior to this accident, Froome had suggested that 2025 might be his final year of competitive racing.
Michelle Froome shared the update to highlight the severity of the crash and to thank supporters for their concern. “Chris is happy for you to share this because people need to understand what is going on,” she said.
The cycling world now awaits updates on Froome’s recovery, with many hoping the decorated rider can make a full return to the sport he has dominated for over a decade.
