Chris Froome has resumed training on Wednesday, just one day after a frightening incident in which he reported being 'rammed on purpose' by an 'impatient' driver while on a ride in the south of France.
The triple Tour de France champion's Team Sky Pinarello was severely damaged in the incident. A photo posted online by Froome showed both of the wheels were bent, the frame snapped and bars twisted.
The 31-year-old Briton said that the driver had followed him onto the pavement, but that the he had escaped without injury.
Froome said via Twitter that the incident had been reported to French police, who had been 'brilliant' and that he was 'just grateful I wasn't hurt'.
A new bike was flown to Froome overnight so that the disruption to his build-up towards the Tour de France in July would be kept to a minimum.
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The incident caused widespread shock in the cycling community, and Froome thanked all the many people who had wished him well after the incident.
Froome then posted a photo of himself on Twitter on Wednesday morning, showing him out on a new bike, simply saying 'Back at it'.
The incident comes in the wake of the death of pro rider Michele Scarponi, who died as a result of his injuries after colliding with a van during a training ride in April.
Reacting to the photos of Froome's twisted bike and the nature of the incident, his team-mate Mikel Landa – currently riding in the Giro d'Italia – said: “I had goosebumps [seeing the photograph]. I thought about Scarponi. In an accident, we are always going to be the one who’s worse off.”
