Devastated Froome quits Tour

Defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome became the second major casualty of this year’s race when he abandoned the race after a third crash in two days.

Following Mark Cavendish abandoning on Saturday after a crash and subsequent shoulder injury, Froome tumbled to the tarmac on Tuesday’s fourth stage, damaging his wrist and though it was reported he fractured it, he started the cobbled fifth stage from Ypres to Arenburg Porte du Hinaut yesterday, which took place in torrential rain and on very slick roads.

Froome crashed early on the route before a second crash 85-kilometres in saw him end his defence by taking his place in the back of the Team Sky car and on his official Twitter page he wrote: “Devastated to have to withdraw from this years TDF. Injured wrist and tough conditions made controlling my bike near to impossible.