Chris Froome's teammate Geraint Thomas believes the injuries the four-time Tour de France champion suffered in a horrific crash last week could have been "a hell of a lot worse".
Froome suffered extensive injuries when his bike hit a wall at almost 35m/h (56km/h) last Wednesday during his fourth-stage reconnaissance of the Criterium du Dauphine.
Geraint Thomas and teammate Chris Froome en route to Paris in last year's Tour de France.Credit:AP
He's recovering at the University Hospital of St Etienne where he underwent a six-hour operation, having fractured his right femur and suffered a broken hip, a fractured elbow and fractured ribs, while it was also reported he fractured his neck.
"It's scary. It's never nice to hear, especially when it's a close friend. It sounds horrific really," Thomas said in an interview with BBC Sport Wales.
Advertisement
"It sounds like he was lucky to come away with the damage he's done really. It could've been a hell of a lot worse, which I guess is a positive in a bad scenario.
"But he's got the best care around him so hopefully he can get back on the bike soon.
"I've sent him a couple of messages but I'm sure he's got a few to get through. The whole team's behind him."
Thomas last year beat Froome to win the Tour Read More – Source
Chris Froome's teammate Geraint Thomas believes the injuries the four-time Tour de France champion suffered in a horrific crash last week could have been "a hell of a lot worse".
Froome suffered extensive injuries when his bike hit a wall at almost 35m/h (56km/h) last Wednesday during his fourth-stage reconnaissance of the Criterium du Dauphine.
Geraint Thomas and teammate Chris Froome en route to Paris in last year's Tour de France.Credit:AP
He's recovering at the University Hospital of St Etienne where he underwent a six-hour operation, having fractured his right femur and suffered a broken hip, a fractured elbow and fractured ribs, while it was also reported he fractured his neck.
"It's scary. It's never nice to hear, especially when it's a close friend. It sounds horrific really," Thomas said in an interview with BBC Sport Wales.
Advertisement
"It sounds like he was lucky to come away with the damage he's done really. It could've been a hell of a lot worse, which I guess is a positive in a bad scenario.
"But he's got the best care around him so hopefully he can get back on the bike soon.
"I've sent him a couple of messages but I'm sure he's got a few to get through. The whole team's behind him."
Thomas last year beat Froome to win the Tour Read More – Source
