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• Froome says he ‘can’t walk without crutches’ after hitting barrier
• Briton’s hopes of Tour de France-Vuelta a España double in ruins
• Briton’s hopes of Tour de France-Vuelta a España double in ruins
Chris Froome’s hopes of pulling off a rare Tour de France-Vuelta a España double appear to be over after the Briton said it was “unlikely” he would start stage 12 of the race following a heavy crash early on Wednesday.
Froome hit a barrier at the start of the brutal 11th stage in the Pyrenees and limped across the line more than seven minutes behind the new leader, Fabio Aru, and almost nine minutes behind the stage winner, Mikel Landa from Spain. Afterwards the two-time Tour de France winner cast doubt over his further participation.
“Knocked sideways into a barrier & stone wall today. Further scans in the morning but start unlikely as I can’t walk without crutches,” Froome tweeted late on Wednesday after undergoing scans on his injured knee and shoulder.
Froome appeared close to abandoning the race when he was dropped from the group of main contenders with three of the six climbs remaining but the 30-year-old doggedly continued with the help of his Sky team-mates and managed to finish the stage.
However, after losing so much time and with 10 stages remaining, Froome’s hopes of emulating Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil, in 1963, and Bernard Hinault (1978) as the only men to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year are all but over.
“Really appreciate all the messages of support, I did my best to hang in there today as best I could with the hope of continuing,” Froome added, while praising his team mate Geraint Thomas, who helped nurse him through to the finish.
“Thanks to the whole team for the support, especially @GeraintThomas86 for sticking it out with me today.”
Froome hit a barrier at the start of the brutal 11th stage in the Pyrenees and limped across the line more than seven minutes behind the new leader, Fabio Aru, and almost nine minutes behind the stage winner, Mikel Landa from Spain. Afterwards the two-time Tour de France winner cast doubt over his further participation.
“Knocked sideways into a barrier & stone wall today. Further scans in the morning but start unlikely as I can’t walk without crutches,” Froome tweeted late on Wednesday after undergoing scans on his injured knee and shoulder.
Froome appeared close to abandoning the race when he was dropped from the group of main contenders with three of the six climbs remaining but the 30-year-old doggedly continued with the help of his Sky team-mates and managed to finish the stage.
However, after losing so much time and with 10 stages remaining, Froome’s hopes of emulating Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil, in 1963, and Bernard Hinault (1978) as the only men to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year are all but over.
“Really appreciate all the messages of support, I did my best to hang in there today as best I could with the hope of continuing,” Froome added, while praising his team mate Geraint Thomas, who helped nurse him through to the finish.
“Thanks to the whole team for the support, especially @GeraintThomas86 for sticking it out with me today.”
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