Chris Harper Loses Part of Thumb in Gruesome Tour de France Crash

Australian rider Chris Harper is out of the Tour de France after losing part of his left thumb in a gruesome crash during Tuesday’s dramatic stage across the Massif Central.

Harper, 31, crashed on the descent of the Puy Mary, one of several riders to hit the deck in the same corner during the scorching stage 10. Despite the injury, he remounted and finished the stage.

He did not start Wednesday’s stage, and Pinarello-Q36.5 later confirmed he had undergone surgery.

“The Australian rider came down on the descent from Puy Mary, approximately 25 kilometers from the finish in Le Lioran, after crashing at the same section where teammate Tom Pidcock had fallen moments earlier,” the team said.

“Medical examinations carried out after the stage have confirmed Chris Harper suffered a serious injury to the thumb of his left hand.”

“He underwent surgery [Tuesday] evening and, unfortunately, due to the severity of the injury, he is unable to take the start of today’s stage. He will now undergo further specialist assessment in Zurich.”

Harper crashed just moments after teammate Tom Pidcock fell in the same section of road. After the stage, Pidcock questioned the white treatment applied to parts of the descent, saying it made the road unexpectedly slippery in the extreme heat.

“Pulling out of any bike race sucks but hurts a bit more to pull out of the biggest one of them all. Thanks to the team for the support and fingers crossed for a quick recovery and back into some racing for the second part of the season,” Harper wrote on social media.

Despite suffering one of the Tour’s nastiest injuries, Harper managed to find some humor after surgery.

“On a positive note think I’m now 10g lighter 😂 #marginalgains”