Chris Froome to ride for Egan Bernal at Volta a Catalunya after crash
The Brit lost 14 minutes on stage two after a collision left him chasing

Chris Froome will ride in support of Egan Bernal at the Volta a Catalunya after a crash took him out of overall contention.
The Team Sky rider was involved in a crash on stage two and finished the day 14 minutes behind the peloton, but will ride on after suffering some cuts in the fall.
Now well out of the general classification battle, Froome will ride in support of his Colombian team-mate for the remainder of the race.
>>> Michael Matthews sails to victory on stage two of Volta a Catalunya 2019
Team Sky sports director Nicolas Portal said: “Froomey crashed just a couple of kilometres before we passed the finish line for the first time.
“He still doesn’t really know what happened but it was a tricky corner, which had a few roadworks on the right and was also quite bumpy.
“Someone hit him and he slid and crashed. By the time he changed bike and got going the bunch was going too fast and there was no chance to come back.
“He is here to support Egan this week, but it is a shame this happened.”
Froome was involved in an off-camera crash with two Bora-Hansgrohe riders 35km from the line, and was forced to wait for a bike as the peloton pressed on.
The four-time Tour de France winner was left isolated as his team worked to protect Bernal in the chaotic run to the finish.
With Astana driving the pace on the front of the peloton, the gap to Froome extended out to six minutes as he tried to chase back on.
Despite working with a small group of riders who had also been left behind, Froome finished 14 minutes down.
>>> Julian Alaphilippe knocks Alejandro Valverde off top spot of UCI World Ranking
Portal added: “We couldn’t ask another one of our guys to wait because we knew if we did this we’d have two riders fewer on the final climb.
“Today it was really important for Egan to have that support.
“It was a technical finish and we knew there could be some splits. Froomey said himself for the guys to stay at the front.
“Obviously we will monitor him but it seems like Froomey is okay.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Dr Hutch: WLTM someone to join him on long rides
Doctor Hutch leaves sightseeing for others and dedicates his long rides to the pursuit of solitary suffering. But now he’s looking for ride-mates - A GSOH is a must
By Michael Hutchinson • Published
-
Carolin Schiff makes huge solo effort to take victory at women's Unbound Gravel 200
German off-road pro takes a massive solo victory at gravel's premiere event, Unbound
By Henry Lord • Last updated
-
From drawing to Giro d'Italia in 2 months: How SunGod reinvented Geraint Thomas' iconic sunglasses
The glasses, GTs, have been seen on the Welshman's face throughout his impressive Giro d'Italia run
By Adam Becket • Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia after fracturing hip on stage 11
Ineos Grenadiers rider was sitting in third before falling heavily with 69km to go on Wednesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Blow to Ineos's Giro d'Italia as Filippo Ganna forced out with Covid-19
Time-triallist and super-domestique Filippo Ganna has had to leave his home Grand Tour due to a Covid-19 positive
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart ready for Giro d'Italia after sealing Tour of the Alps victory in Italy
British rider says he will savour his second-ever overall win, before turning his attention towards the fast approaching Italian Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Just stay calm and relaxed’: Tao Geoghegan Hart one day from second-ever overall victory
Barring major disaster, the Ineos Grenadiers rider will wrap up overall victory at the Tour of the Alps in Brunico on Friday
By Tom Thewlis • Published