Chris Froome Suffers Fractured Collarbone in UAE Tour Crash
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Chris Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, has suffered a fractured collarbone after being involved in a mid-race crash during the final stage of the UAE Tour. The Israel-Premier Tech rider was forced to abandon the race, with his team later confirming the injury in a medical update. Froome's injuries will be assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon in Dubai to determine whether surgery will be required to stabilize the fracture. The crash occurred during the battle for the early breakaway, with footage showing Froome sitting on the pavement and receiving medical attention at the side of the road while gently holding onto an injured right arm.
The UAE Tour was Froome's first race of the 2025 season, and he was aiming to make a Grand Tour start again this year. However, his recovery time and return to training and racing are currently unknown. The team has wished Froome a speedy recovery, and he will be assessed by a medical professional to determine the best course of action. The crash has raised concerns about safety in the sport, with several riders involved in the incident and forced to abandon the race. Froome's Factor bike was also damaged in the crash, with the front wheel broken in three pieces and the tire torn completely off its rim.
The incident occurred on the seventh and final stage of the UAE Tour, a 176km race from Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to the 10.9km, 6.7% Jebel Hafeet. The first 166km consisted of flat desert roads before angling upwards to a conclusion. Inside the first 10km, a mass crash took down several riders, including Froome, Josh Tarling, Niklas Behrens, and Arvid de Kleijn. The crash has been described as a nasty incident, with several riders crashing face-first into an unprotected median strip. The injuries sustained by the riders have raised concerns about the safety of the course and the need for better protection for riders.
Other riders involved in the crash included Josh Tarling, who was able to get back on his bike after shaking his injured arm, and Torstein Traeen, who was also unable to continue. The incident has highlighted the risks involved in professional cycling and the need for riders to be aware of their surroundings at all times. The UAE Tour has been marred by several incidents, including a crash in the opening stage that forced several riders to abandon the race. The incident has raised questions about the safety of the course and the need for better protection for riders.
The following are the details of the crash and its aftermath:
- Chris Froome: fractured collarbone, abandoned the race
- Arvid de Kleijn: broken collarbone, abandoned the race
- Niklas Behrens: waiting for exact diagnosis, abandoned the race
- Josh Tarling: injured arm, able to continue
- Torstein Traeen: unable to continue
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