Severe pain forces the French team captain Maurice Manificat to leave Tour de Ski before the stage race has even started.

Maurice Manificat slipped on a patch of ice during his workout on Monday afternoon. The French veteran is suffering rib pain, which has intensified throughout the afternoon. 

Manificat is undergoing X-rays and medical exams, but the severe and acute pain is certainly not a good sign. However, the French national team physician still leaves a slight hope for the 35-year-old. 

“There is a 90 percent chance that he will have to withdraw due to the injury, but we will make the final call later this evening,” the French national team reports. 

Manificat was second overall in Tour de Ski last year, only beat by Alexander Bolshunov. 

Without Manificat, France’s Tour de Ski team consists of 12 racers. 

Tour de Ski 2021/22 starts in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on December 28 and ends in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on January 4. Here are all the Tour de Ski details and the day-by-day schedule

Who Will Win Tour de Ski? Check out our extensive analysis of this year’s Tour de Ski lineup.