"We’re all behind you, Froomey" - Messages of support pour in for Chris Froome as former Tour de France champion left hospitalised by serious training crash

The legendary Chris Froome will go down as one of the greatest Grand Tour riders in history, but after what is being described as a serious training crash left the 40-year-old four-time Tour de France winner hospitalised this week, it looks as if his professional career could be over. From across the cycling world, tributes and messages of support have been pouring in.

"Chris Froome was airlifted to hospital in Toulon yesterday afternoon following a serious training crash [no other cyclists or vehicles were involved]," explained an announcement by the Israel - Premier Tech team following initial reports by L'Equipe of Froome's hospitalisation. "Fortunately, Chris is stable and did not sustain any head injuries, however, scans have confirmed a pneumothorax, five broken ribs, and a lumbar vertebrae fracture, for which he will undergo surgery this afternoon. We will update on Chris’ condition following surgery."

As mentioned, since this official confirmation of the seriousness of the crash, tributes and messages of support have been sent to the seven-time Grand Tour winner from across the peloton.

"Wishing Chris Froome a speedy recovery after his training accident yesterday," wrote a post on social media by the Brit's former employers INEOS Grenadiers. Froome dominated the Grand Tours of the 2010s when riding for the team then-named Team Sky, taking the aforementioned seven wins at three-week stage races among numerous other notable triumphs. "We’re all behind you, Froomey."

"Wishing you a speedy recovery champion," added the page of the Giro d'Italia, a race Froome famously won back in 2018 - the last Grand Tour victory of his career - when he put in one of the most iconic rides in modern cycling on stage 19 to turn the general classification on its head and seize the Maglia Rosa.

All associated with CyclingUpToDate.com. would like to also send their best wishes to Froome for his recovery.