Tour De France: Chris Froome Forced To Run Up Mont Ventoux After Late Crash

British cyclist Chris Froome was forced to run without a bike following a crash with a motorbike on one of the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France on Thursday.

Tour De France: Chris Froome Forced To Run Up Mont Ventoux After Late Crash

Froome, 31, crashed with Australian Richie Porte and Dutchman Bauke Mollema just over one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the finish on Mont Ventoux in Provence, France.

The defending champion was overtaken by rivals Adam Yates and Nairo Quintana in the melee, although organizers ruled that Froome should retain the overall lead.

Belgian Thomas de Gendt won stage 12, which had been shortened due to high winds.

As Froome climbed towards the finish line at Chalet Reynard, Porte rode into the back of a motorbike, which seemed to stop suddenly because of crowds encroaching on to the road.

Froome and Bauke Mollema crashed into Porte and all three fell off their bikes.

With his bike damaged, Froome continued on foot as he waited for a replacement.

According to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s governing body, a cyclist can cross the line on foot but only if he/she has his/her bike with them.

Froome attempted to use a neutral service bike before switching to a third bike from the Team Sky car approximately 200 meters later, eventually crossing the line shaking his head.

Speaking to French TV, the 2013 and 2015 champion said: “I was with Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema and all three of us went into the back of the motorbike. I got hit from behind by another motorbike that broke my bicycle.”

He then continued: “I told myself, ‘I don’t have a bike and my car is five minutes behind with another bike – it’s too far away, I’m going to run a bit’.”

Froome finished one minute and 40 seconds behind Mollema of team Trek-Segafredo, who had immediately managed to remount his bike, and 44 seconds behind BMC’s Porte.

However, Porte and Frome were given the same time as Mollema, five minutes five seconds behind Lotto Soudal rider De Gendt.

“I’m happy with the jury’s decision,” Froome added. “I think it’s right. Thanks to them and thanks to the Tour de France organization.”

Mollema, 29, tweeted a picture of the crash and said: “This may NOT happen in the biggest race of the world! There has been too many accidents with motos last year!”

“The crowd were all over the road and it was such a mess,” added Porte, 31. “It was just crazy.”

It remains unclear whether the motorcycle Porte collided with stopped because of spectators stepping into its path.

However, over-zealous fans have already caused problems on this year’s Tour, with Froome fined 200 Swiss Francs ($204) for lashing out at an encroaching fan on stage eight.

There have been regular calls from both riders and organizers for spectators to respect the space of cyclists more.

Among riders, there was anger aimed at some of those who had come to watch the race as well as Tour officials.