Chris Froome breaks collarbone in significant crash set-back | Video

Chris Froome, far right, on the road as his mechanic walks by with the British rider's front wheel in pieces from the crash that also resulted in a broken collarbone

Chris Froome (Israel Premier Tech) has suffered a major set-back to his hopes of riding a Grand Tour this year, in what looks likely to be his last season, after breaking his collarbone today.

The four-time Tour de France winner came down in a group crash just after the start of the final stage at UAE Tour. Froome's front wheel was smashed to pieces but, more worryingly, it was clear he was not going to continue in the race.

His team has now confirmed he suffered a broken collarbone, which is a major set-back for the 39-year-old as he hopes to ride the Vuelta this year, when he would be aged 40 years.

Froome was already enduring an anonymous ride in UAE, starting today's stage in 75th overall, some 17:23 down on race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

“Chris Froome was forced to abandon the UAE Tour following a crash during the final stage,” Israel-Premier Tech said in a statement which also confirmed the nature of the seven-time Grand Tour winner's injury.

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"“A CT scan has confirmed a distal non-displaced fracture of his right clavicle (collarbone). Chris will be assessed tomorrow by an orthopaedic surgeon in Dubai to determine whether surgery will be required to stabilise the fracture.”