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Chris Froome crashes again on fifth stage of Tour de France | Chris Froome crashes again on fifth stage of Tour de France |
(35 minutes later) | |
Chris Froome fell again in the Tour de France, just 25 kilometres into Wednesday’s fifth stage. | Chris Froome fell again in the Tour de France, just 25 kilometres into Wednesday’s fifth stage. |
The defending champion slid off his bike in pouring rain while still on the flat part of the Ypres-to-Arenberg Porte du Hinaut stage following the crash the previous day that left him with a badly grazed hip and an injured left wrist. | The defending champion slid off his bike in pouring rain while still on the flat part of the Ypres-to-Arenberg Porte du Hinaut stage following the crash the previous day that left him with a badly grazed hip and an injured left wrist. |
He was able to rejoin the race but was forced to chase hard with four Sky team-mates to make up more than a minute on the peloton. Television pictures showed him this time with grazing to the right thigh and a cut knee. | |
Froome’s hopes for the day had been theoretically boosted when the organisers removed two of the nine cobbled sections on the stage, affording the British rider’s heavily strapped wrist a little relief on what is set to be a hellish day in northern France, though his latest accident happened before the pavé had even been reached which is around 80km in. | |
“Due to bad weather and road conditions, two cobbled sectors have been removed from stage five,” a statement on letour.com read. | “Due to bad weather and road conditions, two cobbled sectors have been removed from stage five,” a statement on letour.com read. |
“They are sector seven, the 1,000m stretch of cobbles at Mons-en-Pévèle, and sector five, which is the 1,400m long portion from Orchies to Beuvry-la-Forêt. | “They are sector seven, the 1,000m stretch of cobbles at Mons-en-Pévèle, and sector five, which is the 1,400m long portion from Orchies to Beuvry-la-Forêt. |
“It takes the total of pavés [cobbled] sections down to 13km but the race will remain highly attractive. | “It takes the total of pavés [cobbled] sections down to 13km but the race will remain highly attractive. |
“The total distance is of stage five will be 152.5km, which is 3km less than initially planned.” | “The total distance is of stage five will be 152.5km, which is 3km less than initially planned.” |
The stage features many of the cobbled sections used in the Paris-Roubaix “Hell of the North” one-day race. | The stage features many of the cobbled sections used in the Paris-Roubaix “Hell of the North” one-day race. |
The Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford welcomed the decision. He said on letour.com: “The riders’ safety must always come first. It’s completely different to have cobbles on a one-day race or on a GC [general classification] race when it can have a major impact on the outcome. | The Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford welcomed the decision. He said on letour.com: “The riders’ safety must always come first. It’s completely different to have cobbles on a one-day race or on a GC [general classification] race when it can have a major impact on the outcome. |
“It would have been a shame after such a fantastic start in England to have a stage with such an impact on the GC.” | “It would have been a shame after such a fantastic start in England to have a stage with such an impact on the GC.” |
Froome, who fell on his left side during June’s Critérium du Dauphiné, was sent for a precautionary x-ray after his wrist bore the brunt of the fall, but Team Sky announced late on Tuesday that the 29-year-old was all right to continue. | Froome, who fell on his left side during June’s Critérium du Dauphiné, was sent for a precautionary x-ray after his wrist bore the brunt of the fall, but Team Sky announced late on Tuesday that the 29-year-old was all right to continue. |
Asked about Froome on Wednesday morning, Brailsford added: “He’s sore. But it should be all right. | Asked about Froome on Wednesday morning, Brailsford added: “He’s sore. But it should be all right. |
“It’s not an ideal scenario but he’s all set for this stage. He’s a fighter.” | “It’s not an ideal scenario but he’s all set for this stage. He’s a fighter.” |
Brailsford also said that Richie Porte would be a protected rider, like Froome, as an insurance policy if the 29-year-old Briton’s injuries proved too severe for him to challenge for the overall title. | |
The decision again highlighted Brailsford’s call to omit Sir Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 winner, from Team Sky’s squad. | |
Wiggins was ninth in Paris-Roubaix in April and won May’s Tour of California but was not selected. |
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