bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agencies

Reigning champion Chris Froome breifly switched from cycling to running up Mont Ventoux in the 12th stage of the Tour de France after a sensational crash into a motorbike on the final climb on Thursday.
Earlier media reports said Froome had lost the yellow jersey, but the Briton tweeted: still in yellow jersey”.
Froome was with BMC rider Richie Porte from Australia and Bauke Mollema of the Netherlands (Trek Segafredo), when all three crashed into a TV motorbike that was held up by fans.
Froome tried to ride on, but his bike was broken and he started running up the climb before being given first a neutral bike and then a team bike to finish the 12th stage.

His main rivals, including Colombian Nairo Quintana were also held up by the crash as a throng of fans obstructed the road.
But the over-riding sight of the 178km 12th stage from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, was the yellow jersey of Froome running on foot inside the final kilometre in a desperate and sadly comic attempt to save his race.
That Belgian Thomas De Gendt won the stage on the mythical mountain was barely a footnote among the incredible drama surrounding Froome.
Froome lost 1 minute and 40 seconds in the catastrophic incident which is being investigated by Tour organisers.

“The motorbike could not progress and there was a pile-up in which Chris’ bike was broken,” said Team Sky sports director Nicolas Portal. “It was a nightmare.”
Portal added he was also held up behind the race stewards and could not drive up to his rider, so that his mechanic could hand him a spare bike.
“It’s an incident created by the event. There are more and more people lining up the road. It’s got nothing to do with sport,” the Frenchman said.

“It was crazy. On a 200-metre portion there were hundreds of spectators blocking the road.”
Froome had been the strongest of the top favourites in a stage shortened because of violent winds at top of the Ventoux, dropping main rival Quintana of Colombia with about 3km left as only Porte and Mollema could follow his pace.
Without the incident, the double Tour champion was set to extend his overall lead.
Reuters, Agence France-Presse


How Spain’s Costa Blanca has become a cycling hotspot in winter

British cycling great Mark Cavendish signs off with emotional win at Singapore Criterium

Paris Olympics 2024: what to know and who to watch during the cycling competition

Tour de France: tension builds as rivals Pogacar and Vingegaard brace for fresh duel

Tour de France

Running man: Chris Froome tweets ‘still in yellow jersey’ after sensational crash on monster Mont Ventoux

Fans cheer on Team Sky rider Chris Froome as he starts running on the road after a fall that damaged his bike. Photo: Reuters

epa05424569 British rider Christopher Froome of Team Sky shows his dejection as he crosses the finish line after crashing on the final climb of the 12th stage of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race over 178km between Montpellier and Mont Ventoux, France, 14 July 2016. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Chris Froome's message on his Twitter account.

Cycling - The Tour de France cycling race - The 178-km (110.6 miles) Stage 12 from Montpellier to Chalet-Reynard - 14/07/2016 - Lotto Soudal team rider Thomas De Gendt of Belgium wins on the finish line. REUTERS/Juan Medina

Sport

Other Sport

Reigning Tour de France champion says on social site that he retains oberall lead despite crash that saw Briton try to run up final kilometre of notorious mountain stage
