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Froome crashes out of Tour

Jul 10, 2014
Richie Porte

Richie Porte

Australia’s Richie Porte will take over as Team Sky leader in the Tour de France after defending champion Chris Froome crashed out.

Froome entered Wednesday’s rain-soaked fifth stage from Ypres to Arenberg Porte de Hinaut wearing a splint on his wrist after a fall the previous day.

The British cyclist got back on his bike after toppling 40 minutes into Wednesday’s race, but got into team’s car after a second fall an hour later.

He confirmed his withdrawal on Twitter, saying: “Devastated to have to withdraw from this years TDF. Injured wrist and tough conditions made controlling my bike near to impossible.”

“Thanks to the team & support staff for trying to get me through today. Wishing @richie_porte & @TeamSky the best for the rest of Tour!” he added in a second tweet.

Riding to minimise losses, Porte finished 20th, 2 minutes 11 seconds behind stage winner Lars Boom, lifting himself to an eighth overall ranking, 1:54 behind race leader Vincenzo Nibali.

Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford said he was devastated to lose Froome, but that Porte was very capable of taking over.

“In Richie Porte, he’s come into this team, we’ve selected him to be the number two; he had great ability today and great courage with Geraint (Thomas) to ride the cobbles the way he did and given the way it’s timed at the minute, we’ve got an exciting couple of weeks to come.”

Dutchman Lars Boom brilliantly won Wednesday’s wet and cobbled 152.5km stage from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg du Porte Hainaut, but the big winner was Nibali.

Expertly marshalled by his Astana teammate Jakob Fuglsang, the Italian came home in third, 19sec behind Boom, but put significant time into all his main rivals for the final victory in Paris.

Other overall contenders didn’t fare much better, with world champion Rui Costa, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and American Tejay Van Garderen now all 2:11 back.

Alberto Contador, who trailed in 2min 54sec behind Boom and is now 19th overall and 2:37 behind Nibali.

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