Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, 40, was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after crashing during a solo training ride near Saint-Raphaël on Wednesday, his Israel-Premier Tech team said. Medical scans showed a pneumothorax, five broken ribs and a fractured lumbar vertebra, and surgeons were preparing to operate on Thursday. The team added that the British rider was stable and had avoided head injuries, with no other cyclists or vehicles involved in the incident. The severity of the injuries is expected to rule Froome out for the remainder of the season and deepens uncertainty over his future as his contract with Israel-Premier Tech expires at year-end. Froome last won the Tour in 2017 and has struggled to regain top form since a serious crash in 2019. The latest setback leaves one of cycling’s most decorated riders facing another lengthy rehabilitation.