Four-time Tour de France winner Froome in intensive care after high-speed crash

Get well Froomey! Come back strong. I hope we can see him next year in the Olympics. I plan on going to watch myself.

I suppose its customary for those in the sport to downplay it, but this sounds like a "lucky to be alive" crash. Rather than clipping a wall, it sounds like he went straight into one at 55kph. It was a time trial day, and he'll have been on a time trial bike with aero bars and a much reduced drop handlebar. Those bikes are built for speed, not ease of control or stability, and this may have been a factor in any evasive move he tried to take.

Regarding Reckless's story, front wheel problems are the worst. A thick branch in the spokes and you're going over the top. If your back wheel seizes up, you'll enter a massive skid, but it won't throw you anywhere.

All that pain just for blowing his nose. Insane.

Not only dangerous. Cycling is probably the toughest sport out there.

I guess you either understand it and love it as a rider or a spectator, or it leaves you cold.

Two wheels opens you up to all kinds of dangers, especially downhill at speed through winding corners, with stone walls and houses on either side. And when one falls, it can be like skittles.