Four-time Tour de France champion returns to cycling after career-threatening crash: 'Tough road back'

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A four-time Tour de France champion is back on the bike after a severe crash resulted in him being airlifted to a hospital.

Chris Froome suffered major injuries in a "serious training crash" back in August and was airlifted to a hospital in Toulon, France.

Froome suffered a pneumothorax, five broken ribs and a lumbar vertebra fracture that put his cycling career in jeopardy.

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However, Froome posted on social media that he was riding again.

"It’s been a tough road back after my latest crash, but it feels so good to finally be out here spinning the legs and on the road again," Froome wrote with a selfie on Instagram. "Every setback teaches you something... this one reminded me to slow down, heal and enjoy the simple things in life."

Froome's first Tour de France victory came in 2013. He then won three straight after losing in 2014, becoming the first person to defend the title since Lance Armstrong before his seven victories were stripped. 

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His last victory was the Giro d’Italia in 2018. He also won the Spanish Vuelta twice, in 2011 and 2017, bookending his four triumphs in the Tour — the first in 2013, followed by a hat-trick of titles from 2015-17.

The 40-year-old Froome never returned to his previous best level following a training crash at the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné, an event he used to fine-tune his bid for a record-equaling fifth Tour title. In the accident, he broke his right femur, elbow and ribs.

Froome has been signed with Israel-Premier Tech since 2021, but with the contract soon expiring, combined with this crash, his career could be in jeopardy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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