https://road.cc/content/news/chris-froome-seriously-injured-training-crash-315643
Sound like a bad one (again)
The 40-year-old is yet to confirm whether this season will be his last in the professional peloton
I imagine it won't be long before he confirms it is now...
I always feel quite sorry for people when a great career ends with a mix of bad luck, injuries and increasingly invisible race results.
He's gone from being one of the genuinely best male Grand Tour riders ever to a non-entity almost. Someone who's most notable appearances recently have been to complain about disc brakes.
Retiring on your own terms (as with Cav, as with G in the Tour of Britain next week) is fantastic, even if you're not up to your previous abilities. Being forced out through yet another bad crash has got to play on your mind somewhat.
I can't imagine another team wanting him now. Too old, too accident prone...
Poor guy.
The injuries sound horific, wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Retiring on your own terms (as with Cav, as with G in the Tour of Britain next week) is fantastic, even if you're not up to your previous abilities. Being forced out through yet another bad crash has got to play on your mind somewhat.
It would be an interesting loss of future earnings lawsuit - as he's definietly in the "fill the retirement chest by trading on former reputation" point in his career (and more power to him, he's earnt it), which this accident has almost certainly put an end to.
It is a bit of a sad ending. What is amazing is that he _almost_ came back to a competitive level.
Froome is one of the greats. Shame he is not given more credit. 4 tour wins, 1 giro, 2 vuelta. Won all 3 in 12 months. The win on Ventoux in 2013. That break in the Giro to win. Not really the boring rider he is made out to be.
+ yes, I find id difficult to justify how IPT remain in the world tour, but that's not on Froome
he's definitely in the "fill the retirement chest by trading on former reputation" point in his career
I'd argue he's been at that point since he left Sky/Ineos after his previous bad crash
Very sad though, he was a hell of a rider for a few years. Some truly epics rides.
Froome is one of the greats. Shame he is not given more credit. 4 tour wins, 1 giro, 2 vuelta. Won all 3 in 12 months. The win on Ventoux in 2013. That break in the Giro to win. Not really the boring rider he is made out to be.
I can't understand why he doesn't get the credit for that amazing series of achivements. Was it largely his awkward riding posture and people like to watch stylish riders?
I can't understand why he doesn't get the credit for that amazing series of achivements. Was it largely his awkward riding posture and people like to watch stylish riders?
I think he's just not a media-friendly guy - a lot of cyclists (and in fact sportspeople in general) are actually pretty dull but Froome took it to new heights of dullness.
Brilliant rider with, as noted, some epic victories. His lone break in the Giro was probably one of the most incredible Grand Tour rides of that era.
But then he's just a bit dull and a bit whiny in interviews. The whole Wiggins feud (even if much of it was manufactured by the media) didn't help his cause either.
Given the extent of the injuries I doubt what's left of his career is in the forefront of his mind. I hope he makes a full recovery and can enjoy his retirement.
I can't imagine another team wanting him now. Too old, too accident prone...
Poor guy.
Oh I dunno, he emerged quite improbably from Africa, won multiple grand tours, and got paid a shedload of dosh for doing it. Had a horrific accident, which he was lucky to survive, let alone recover from well enough to get back on a bike, and then landed a lucrative contract from Israel Whatever They Are Now to ride his bike.
He's not exactly the pathetic, geriatric you seem to be painting him as. He's had a fantastic career and earned a good living from riding a bike around. And at 40 years old, I kind of doubt he's looking for another team anyway.
I just hope he recovers from his latest stack and has a long and happy retirement.
I've always felt a bit sorry for Froome as he seemed to me to be perpetually under-rated (or perhaps "under-liked" would be a more appropriate way of putting it).
I always thought the "boring" comments were unfair and actually as a racer he was pretty exciting to watch most of the time. Some of my favourite GT memories have been of Froome on the attack.
Even as a person, whilst he was never super-charismatic his actual background and entry into cycling was way more interesting than the usual story- brought up in Kenya and South Africa and forcing his way into the European peloton and so forth, his book was a pretty interesting read.
There seems to be a perception now that he has been riding purely for money and to fund his retirement. I've no idea how true that is or not, I guess the money sure doesn't hurt. But the impression I got from his book was that he just loves riding and racing and so from his perspective I think he is happy to race whether he's a world champion or not. As an armchair fan its easy to pity someone in that position- i.e. was at the top of the game and now bringing up the rear. But if that's your job/passion and someone is willing to pay you, why not carry on, I'm sure it beats a regular 9-5.
Reading the OP, it seems like a serious crash so hope the memes and jokes are kept to a minimum online tbh.
I can't understand why he doesn't get the credit for that amazing series of achivements.
Not particularly likeable in front of the media, many doubts about whether his wins were clean, domination of the TdF (and lead up races) by a single team over a number of years.
Add it all together and there's your answer really.
Yeah, "poor" isn't the word I'd use.
He's chosen to extend his career way past his peak, making big money from a questionable source.
Hope he heals up quick and sensibly decides to retire. Or at least go over to gravel.
SASFO innit.
Stare at stems. Find out.
He had surgery on his back. I really hope he makes a full recovery.
I'm reading Ned Boulting's book - 'The accidental 'Tour' ist atm. The chapter dedicated to Froome makes for an interesting read.
I think Froome is probably a bit like Sir Andy Murray, they both come across as a bit dull, very dedicated and passionate athletes yet are really quite likeable in real life.
Happy to say I’m a big fan. He had a huge effect on racing as well as the wins. I hope he recovers well. I think career fade was more about riding a bike than the money.
We don’t really know about how clean various generations of riders were. But he was badly represented in the media over the Asthma inhaler
Thread bump:
Good to see him back riding.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/it-feels-so-good-to-finally-be-out-here-spinning-the-legs-chris-froome-returns-to-bike-with-future-still-up-in-the-air
I think Froome is probably a bit like Sir Andy Murray, they both come across as a bit dull, very dedicated and passionate athletes yet are really quite likeable in real life.
Spot on Bunny. Froomey came in to work just after he’d won his first TdF and I had a nice chat with him, most pleasant.
My encounter with him was slightly surreal. I was at the top of the Angrilu 8years ago at the penultimate stage of the Vuelta, he had just secured victory thus achieving the triple crown of grand tours. My camper was being used by the UCI to conduct drug testing (long story) and as the leader, he had used my toilet to perform his test. After the formalities he hung around chatting with me when he could have been tucked up in a warm car on the way to the hotel, Ive got a photo with him and he still remains one of the greats in my book who could have broken Hinaults record jf not for a stone wall in Province