Froome Faces Physical And Psychological Battle To Return

Grand Tour champion set for at least six months off after horror crash.

- Vern Pitt

Chris Froome will face a psychological as a well as a physical battle to return to his best within a year following a major training crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné last week.

Froome suffered horrific injuries while scouting the Dauphiné time trial course last Wednesday. Taking his hand off the bars to blow his nose, wind caught his front wheel and he careered into a wall at 54kph.

He suffered a host of injuries (see box) including a skin piercing complex femur fracture and lost four pints of blood. He was airlifted to hospital and operated on for six hours.

From his hospital bed Froome said: “I know how lucky I am to be here.”

The surgeon who operated on Froome said that he would be spending “at least six months” away from cycling.

Dimos Evangelidis, post CTT clinical fellow in trauma orthopaedics at Homerton University Hospital, said that as well as the physical recovery Froome will need substantial psychological support.