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According to the BBC, Britain’s 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.
It was reported that Froome crashed with Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema less than one kilometre from the finish on Mont Ventoux.
The defending champion was overtaken by rivals Adam Yates and Nairo Quintana in the melee but race organisers ruled Froome should retain the overall lead.
Thomas de Gendt won stage 12, which had been shortened because of high winds.
Speaking to French TV, Froome, 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.
“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’.”
The Team Sky rider finished one minute and 40 seconds behind Trek-Segafredo’s Mollema, who had immediately managed to remount his bike, and 44 seconds behind BMC’s Porte.
But Porte and Froome were given the same time as Mollema, five minutes five seconds behind Lotto Soudal rider De Gendt.
Froome said: “I’m happy with the jury’s decision. I think it’s right. Thanks to them and thanks to the Tour de France organisation.”
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