Chris Froome, the four-time Tour de France winner, has announced his retirement from cycling.
What happened?
Froome suffered serious injuries in a training crash last August, including five broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a lumbar vertebrae fracture.
He was airlifted to hospital and underwent an operation that also uncovered a rupture of the pericardium due to blunt chest trauma.
Why it matters for Chris Froome
The 41-year-old's recent years have been heavily disrupted by injuries, including a high-speed crash during the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine.
He struggled to recapture his Tour-winning form and left Team Sky, now known as Ineos, at the end of the 2020 season for Israel Start-Up Nation.
What comes next?
Froome's retirement marks the end of an era for the sport, with only four men - Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain - having won more Tour de France titles.
The leading stage racer of his generation, Froome dominated the Tour between 2013 and 2017, collecting four yellow jerseys in five years.
He also completed the Grand Tour set with overall victories at the Vuelta a Espana in 2011 and 2017 and Giro d’Italia in 2018, as well as winning two Olympic time trial bronze medals.
Froome's wife, Michelle, revealed that the subsequent operation after his crash last summer also uncovered a rupture of the pericardium due to blunt chest trauma.
He collided with a road sign at over 30mph, resulting in the serious injuries that ultimately led to his retirement.
The cycling world will miss Chris Froome's competitive spirit and impressive skills on the road.
His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of cyclists, and his name will remain synonymous with excellence in the sport.