Chris Froome back out training the day after being 'rammed' by driver

Team Sky Tour de France leader resumes training with a new bike the day after his Pinarello was 'totaled' by a driver in France - Froome says the matter is being dealt with by police

Chris Froome back training a day after colliding with a car
(Image credit: Chris Froome/Twitter)

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'.

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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.

>>> ‘It’s a reminder, it shows how dangerous it can be’: Sky riders and staff react to Chris Froome’s crash

The incident caused widespread shock in the cycling community, and Froome thanked all the many people who had wished him well after the incident.

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Froome then posted a photo of himself on Twitter on Wednesday morning, showing him out on a new bike, simply saying 'Back at it'.

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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.”

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.