SHOCKER...
Chris Froome Abandons Tour de France after Defending Champion and Team Sky Leader
Crashes for Third Time in Two Days - Chris Froome abandons Tour de France after Team Sky leader falls for second day between Ypres to Arenburg Porte du Hinaut on stage five
- Froome began holding right arm, tried to get back on his bike, but subsequently quit the Tour due to injuries
- Richie Porte was insurance policy for Froome and will assume leadership
- Tour de France organisers remove two of nine cobbled sections from fifth stage on Wednesday due to 'bad weather and road conditions'
- Froome had X-ray on wrist after Tuesday's fourth-stage crash
Daily Mail UK, 9 July 2014
Chris Froome has abandoned the 2014 Tour de France after the Team Sky leader crashed for the third time in two days.
The defending champion had a precautionary X-ray on his wrist following a crash on Tuesday's fourth stage and took another tumble on the route from Ypres to Arenburg Porte du Hinaut.
Froome's injures proved too severe for the 29-year-old to carry on, as the battered and bruised cyclist looked in pain getting into the Team Sky's car.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Tour de France cyclists attacking spectators taking selfies
Rip: Team Sky leader Chris Froome's race suit was torn after another fall for the second day in a row
Out: Froome's injuries on his right side have meant that the Sky Team cyclist has pulled out of the Tour
Bandaged: Froome began holding his right arm and initially tried to get back on the bike, but subsequently quit
Called it a day: Froome abandoned the Tour during the fifth stage between Ypres to Arenburg Porte du Hinaut
Pain: Froome looks hurt as he gets into the Team Sky car after abandoning the race
Bruised: Froome looks out of the team car as he abandons the race following a third crash in two days
Gutted: Froome will not get to defend his win in the Tour de France last year after his falls
Froome fell about 30km into the stage, before going down again with about 69km to go, making it three nasty falls in the space of 24 hours.
Stage five is recognised as one of the most dangerous days in the schedule, particularly given the wet conditions.
The stage commemorates 100 years since the start of World War One and features many of the cobbles used in the Paris-Roubaix one-day race 'the Hell of the North'.
Wet weather forced race organisers to remove two of the nine cobbled sections.
But Froome's falls came prior even to the first section of cobbles he had been dreading since the route was announced last autumn.
The sad sight of Froome, dominant in winning the 2013 Tour, grimacing by the roadside was reminiscent of Sir Bradley Wiggins' abandonment with a broken collarbone in the first week of the 2011 Tour.
Thumbs up: Froome crashed during stage four of the Tour de France and again the day after
Painful: Froome was injured after falling during the fourth stage of Le Tour
Nasty: Froome was swiftly back on his bike after the collision which also brought down Bauke Mollema
Packed: Froome (with the blue stripe on his back) gets involved in a tight back before toppling over
Fallen: Froome then ends up on the floor as other riders attempt to dodge and avoid hitting the Team Sky rider
Grazed: The Tour doctor Florence Pommerie said Froome was hurting but had initially no major injuries
Setback: Froome began the day in fifth overall after three stages in the United Kingdom
Spectator is floored by cyclist during Tour de France
Tour de France riders attack spectators taking selfies
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Spectator is floored by cyclist during Tour de France
Tour de France riders attack spectators taking selfies