Chris Froome has said he was “rammed on purpose” by a driver who followed him on to a pavement while he was training in southern France.
The three-time Tour de France winner took to Twitter this morning to post a picture of his “totalled” bicycle after being struck by the “impatient driver”.
This wasn’t any normal bicycle, however. Judging by the photo it was one of Team Sky’s “Pinarello Dogma F8, part designed by Jaguar,” which cost around £12,000 and utilise the kind of technology associated with a Formula One car.
Just got rammed on purpose by an impatient driver who followed me onto the pavement! Thankfully I'm okay 🙏 Bike totaled. Driver kept going! pic.twitter.com/o7FT4iXsAo
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) May 9, 2017
The Kenyan-born Froome is currently in training for next month’s Criterium du Dauphiné having decided against competing in the Giro d’Italia race which is entering its 4th stage today.
The former Olympic Medallist who lives in Monaco said he escaped unharmed from the incident, which took place in Beausoleil, close to his Monaco home.
Froome’s description of the incident bears an uncanny resemblance to the footage below, which came from BBC Sussex of a cyclist being targeted by a tailgating van before the van driver deliberately knocks the cyclist off the road.
Sussex police investigate after a cyclist is run off the road by a white van on the #A272 near #Cowfold pic.twitter.com/wdQ86pQ43k
— BBC Sussex (@BBCSussex) May 9, 2017
This is a worrying trend which highlights the widespread ignorance shown towards cyclists’ rights as road users.
This incident comes only a month after the tragic death of former Giro d’Italia winner Michel Scarponi, who died following an accidental collision with a van during a training session in Italy.
