World’s best cyclist ‘rammed’ in shock hit-and-run incident
Chris Froome was lucky to escape major injury. Photo: Getty
British cyclist Chris Froome said he was targeted and “rammed” in a shocking hit-and-run incident on Tuesday evening (AEST).
The 31-year-old – who has won cycling’s biggest race, the Tour de France, on three occasions – posted on Twitter that a car “followed me onto the pavement” to hit him.
Froome, a two-time Olympic Games gold medallist, wrote: “Just got rammed on purpose by an impatient driver who followed me onto the pavement!”
“Thankfully I’m okay. Bike totaled. Driver kept going!”
Just got rammed on purpose by an impatient driver who followed me onto the pavement! Thankfully I'm okay 🙏 Bike totaled. Driver kept going! pic.twitter.com/o7FT4iXsAo
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) May 9, 2017
Froome reported the incident to police in southern France, where the accident occurred as he was training.
It is unclear if police will be able to trace the driver, with Britain’s The Telegraph reporting that Froome tried to memorise the licence plate at the time, but was unable to recall it later.
The incident reportedly took place on a quiet back road that is unlikely to offer CCTV footage of the incident.
Froome is expected to resume training almost immediately after he tweeted Tuesday morning (AEST) that a replacement bike was being flown to France.
Thank you for all the messages of support. New bike flying in tonight 🚲✈️ Back to training tomorrow 😎
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) May 9, 2017
News of Froome’s incident attracted significant attention, with most Twitter users sending the champion cyclist their best wishes.
British racing driver Marino Franchitti summed up the mood when he wrote to Froome: “Scary stuff.”
“Would love to put the driver on the bike and see how they like the experience… so happy you’re in one piece.”
Froome has never been popular in France, with many locals insisting he has doped in what has been a drug-riddled sport for years.
Those claims have always been strenuously denied by Froome, and his Team Sky colleagues, but French fans have regularly jeered the cyclist in the country.
Anti-Froome banners have also been seen along the Tour de France circuit while he even had urine thrown in his face in 2015.
The incident comes less than two months before the start of this year’s Tour, which Froome will enter as the short-priced favourite.
He will aim for a hat-trick of Tour victories this year.
Just over a fortnight ago, Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi was tragically killed at the age of 37 after colliding with a van while on his bike.
Scarponi – the winner of the 2011 Giro d’Italia – was on a training ride when he was hit.