Froome retains yellow jersey despite crash, being forced to jog on last climb

British rider Chris Froome retained the yellow jersey in Thursday’s Stage 12 of the 2016 Tour de France despite losing his bike in a crash with a motorbike and being forced to jog up a section of the final ascent.

During the final climb to the finish line on Mont Ventoux a motorbike carrying a cameraman suddenly used its breaks, causing a pileup involving Australian rider, Richie Porte (BMC), Dutch rider Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory) and Briton Froome (Team Sky), whose bike was damaged in the accident.

Froome, who started the day with the raceleader’s yellow jersey, spent several minutes running on foot up the final climb before he was given a bike.

The Tour officials announced the final overall classifications after discussing what decisions to make in light of the exceptional circumstances.

One option was to award Porte, Mollena and Froome the same time following the pileup.

Froome finished ranked in top place; 47 seconds ahead of fellow Briton Adam Yates (Orica Bike Exchange) in the overall standings.

Dutch rider, Mollema ranked third overall; 56 seconds behind the leader.

Belgian rider Thomas De Gendt, of team LottoSaundal, who avoided the pileup, won the 184 kilometer (114 mile) stage from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux in 4 hours, 31 minutes, 51 seconds.

Fellow Belgian, Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) and Spaniard Dani Navarro (Cofidis) came in second and third, respectively.

Friday’s Stage 13 of the Tour features a 36.5 km (22 mile) timetrial run between BourgSaintAndeol and La Caverne Du Pontd’Arc.