Froome’s teammate Thomas crashes out of Tour de France

Britain’s Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, talks to a team BMC rider during the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 187.5 kilometers (116.5 miles) with start in Dole and finish in Station des Rousses, France, Saturday, July 8, 2017. (Photo by PETER DEJONG / AP)

CHAMBERY, France — Geraint Thomas has crashed on a descent and been taken to a local hospital with a suspected broken collarbone, depriving Chris Froome of a key Sky teammate as he seeks a fourth Tour de France title.

Thomas went down on a slick road coming off the Col de la Biche with slightly more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) remaining in Stage 9 – which is considered one of the race’s toughest.

Thomas began the stage second overall, 12 seconds behind Froome, despite having crashed in several other stages, including Stage 8 on Saturday, when he tumbled over a barrier on a descent.

It’s been an unfortunate year for Thomas, who also exited the Giro d’Italia in May following a crash caused by a police motorbike.

Several other riders also crashed in the 181.5-kilometer (113-mile) stage from Nantua to Chambery.

Robert Gesink of Team Lotto Jumbo and Manuele Mori of UAE Team Emirates were also forced to abandon.