Richie Porte 'conscious and asking for his helmet and glasses' after Tour de France crash
The Australian suffered a nasty crash on the descent of the Mont du Chat
Overall contender Richie Porte (BMC Racing) crashed out of the Tour de France after suffering a nasty crash on the descent of the Mont du Chat on stage nine.
UPDATE: Richie Porte out for at least four weeks with fractures after Tour de France crash
Porte was among a group of seven overall contenders on the treacherous final descent of the mountain stage with just over 22km to go.
He appeared to hit the dirt at the left side of the road on a bend and was thrown across the road, taking out Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) but luckily missing the other contenders.
Speaking after the stage, BMC Racing sports director Fabio Baldato said that the team were still awaiting news from the hospital on the full extent of Porte's injuries, but that the Australian didn't seem to have lost consciousness in the crash.
>>> Geraint Thomas abandons Tour de France after crash
"I can only say that he was conscious from the beginning," Baldato said on the steps of the BMC bus.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"We need to wait for the doctor. What was important is that he always conscious, he knew what happened, and he was asking for his helmets and his glasses."
A provisional medical report from the Tour de France organisers said that Porte had suffered injuries to his head and pelvis, but had not suffered any injuries to his brain.
Baldato also said that the team had ridden the descent four times before the race, including at the Critérium du Dauphiné, therefore knew that it was going to be dangerous.
Race leader Chris Froome (Team Sky) remained safe as he was leading the group at the time, which contained Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale), Romain Bardet (Ag2r), Jakob Fuglsang, Fabio Aru (Astana) as well as Martin and Porte.
>>> Who's out of the Tour de France after stage nine
Porte collided with rock wall on the right side of the road after being thrown off his bike and appeared to suffer some extremely nasty injuries. The Australian was immediately treated by race medical staff at the side of the road and appeared conscious.
Dan Martin was able to get back on his bike, but crashed again after receiving a spare wheel. However he then continued on the descent towards the finish in Chambéry.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
'Our costs are going up but customers can’t pay more': Community bike shops are making cycling affordable, but can they afford to keep the doors open?
Not-for-profit setups designed to make cycling accessible are feeling the pinch - but the communities they're designed to serve can keep them alive
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
Small Cost, BIG Features | Is This Indoor Training Platform Worth The Switch?
icTrainer costs 9x less than the market leader but this indoor training platform is still jam packed with features
By Sponsored Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders fined and sent to education course after racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sanctioned after incident at the Tour of Guangxi
By Adam Becket Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders apologise after being withdrawn from race over racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sent home from Tour of Guangxi after social media post of racist gesture
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay shares photo of eye-catching new helmet design
Eritrean rider shares image of new boxing cork design on cafe stop during training ride
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Richie Porte forced to abandon Giro d'Italia with illness
Ineos Grenadiers lose key domestique on stage 19
By Adam Becket Published
-
How the team with the smallest budget in the WorldTour is overtaking the competition: The rise of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert
The Belgian team has been punching above their weight all season
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay's stage 11 start in question after podium mishap
Eritrean stage-winner injured his eye with a cork during podium celebrations
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
'Unbelievable': Biniam Girmay seizes opportunity in watershed moment for cycling
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider becomes first Eritrean Grand Tour stage winner
By Adam Becket Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket Published