Richie Porte Hospitalized After Mont du Chat Stage 9 Tour de France Crash

A devastating crash during Stage 9 at the Tour de France on Sunday caused extensive injuries to top contender Richie Porte.

According to Sam Edmund of News Corp Australia, via the Herald Sun, the Australian lost control on the descent down Mont du Chat. He was brought to Centre Hospitalier Metropole Savoie in Chambery, where it was discovered Porte fractured both his pelvis and collarbone.

"His condition was stable from the beginning, he was responsive and he remembered everything that happened before and after the crash," BMC medical officer Max Testa said. "...If everything goes to plan, Richie could be back on the bike at the beginning of August and slowly build his fitness up from there."

Several fellow cyclists sent messages to the injured competitor after the stage:

Porte finished in fifth place last season and was considered to be one of the top challengers to Chris Froome, who currently leads the race and has won each of the last two years.

The 32-year-old was in fifth place after Stage 8 of this year's contest, but the accident will force him out of the race.