Cycling-Froome ‘fully focused’ on return after horror crash

Chris Froome says he is "fully focused" on getting back to his best after speaking for the first time since a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine that ruled him out of the Tour de France. The four-time Tour champion sustained multiple fractures including a broken femur, elbow and rib bones when he crashed at high speed while checking the course ahead of the individual time trial on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Briton was airlifted to the University Hospital of St Etienne, where he is continuing his post-surgery recovery. "I know how lucky I am to be here today and how much I owe to all the paramedics and medical staff on the race," Froome said in a statement.

"Whilst this is a setback and a major one at that, I am focusing on looking forward. "There is a long road to recovery ahead, but that recovery starts now and I am fully focused on returning back to my best."

Froome offered his thanks for the overwhelming number of messages of support from fans. "This is obviously a tough time but I have taken a lot of strength from the support over the last three days," he added.

"The outpouring of support has been really humbling and something I would never have expected."