Chris Froome 'thankful' despite hip pain after Vuelta a España crash
The race leader says he'll be able to continue as normal despite crashing twice on stage 12 of the Vuelta
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Chris Froome feels the most pain around his hip after crashing on stage 12 on the Vuelta a España, but is "thankful" to continue on today in the race leader's red jersey.
Team Sky's captain fell twice on the descent leading to the finish on Thursday to Antequera. This morning he gingerly walked up to sign in and back down the steps from the podium with his right knee and left elbow bandaged.
"I got to sleep all right last night," Froome said. "I didn't really sleep on my side! I slept on my back.
"It is probably around my hips and that's where I feel it the worst. The knee is a bit superficial and it just needs keeping clean."
Team Sky's Wout Poels and Mikel Nieve helped him limit the damages after the crash yesterday. His team-mates pulled on the front while Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali were gaining time further down the road.
Chris Froome lost 42 seconds to Contador, who had attacked before the crashes. And he lost 20 seconds to Nibali and a group of favourites. He leads the race by 59 seconds on Nibali.
"Of course it wasn't much fun crashing, but I'm thankful it wasn't more serious and I'm feeling pretty good this morning," Froome said.
"There was some big panic at that moment knowing they were going full-gas in front as well. I was just thankful to have my team-mates with me and we managed the situation as best we could."
In his favour the Vuelta covers one of its rare flat days today to finish in Tomares. The stage should see the sprinters battle for the victory.
Froome added, "Every day in this Vuelta has been a big battle and I expect today will be the same."
This weekend the race continues with two summit finishes followed by a rest day on Monday and the final week. After racing and winning four Tour de France titles, Froome is trying to win his first Vuelta a España.
"He's fine but probably a bit sore today," Sky sports director Nicolas Portal explained. "The first few kilometres will be a bit painful but after that, I think he'll be OK.
"It's better to have a day like this then to have a full hard day, that's for sure.
"He lost a bit of skin and that's it. Besides that it was just a normal crash and that's it."
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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Women’s Tour axed for 2023
Long term future of the standard setting British race remains uncertain after fruitless search for financial backing
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Forget the Classics, Soudal-Quick Step are a GC team: 'We have shown that we're strong enough'
Soudal-Quick Step's performances in the Classics continue to disappoint, but when it comes to stage racing they're outperforming the so-called experts
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'It won’t be difficult to beat my 2022 Classics results'
Ineos Grenadiers' multi-format star ready for central role in one-day racing this Spring
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Rough day' for Chris Froome after crash and punctures kill best chance of victory since 2018
The 37-year-old was up the road in a solo move for over 50km at the Tour du Rwanda on Thursday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published