Favourite Chris Froome ruled out of Tour de France after training crash

Chris Froome, who had been the 13-8 favourite to win the Tour de France, which starts on July 6, has been ruled out of the race.

The British rider crashed into a wall during a training ride before stage four of the Criterium du Dauphine on Wednesday.

Team doctor Richard Usher said: "Chris was taken to Roanne Hospital where initial examinations confirmed multiple injuries, most notably a fractured right femur and right elbow. He has also suffered fractured ribs."

Thomas, the 2018 winner, has been cut from 7-2 to 13-8 to retain the yellow jersey, with Tom Dumoulin 11-2 from 7-1 and Nairo Quintana 11-1 from 22-1.

Team Ineos' rising star, Egan Bernal, is just 9-2 having been 20-1 before Froome's crash, now he is likely to play a more prominent role.

The Colombian Paris-Nice winner missed the Giro d'Italia - where he had been due to lead the team - with a broken collarbone but is set to be fit for Le Tour.

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