As the iconic Tour De France enters the 19th stage today Chris Froome retains his overall lead with an impressive 5 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of his nearest rival Alberto Contador, despite receiving a 20 second penalty during stage 18.

His performances of late have been truly outstanding and with only 3 stages remaining all he needs to do is to maintain the standards he has set and ride into Paris victorious. Before he gets the chance to ride into Paris however he will first have to conquer around 65km of climbing through the alps as part of the 204.5km stage. The stage also sees a 50km downhill stretch before the final part is divided between a 20km ascent once again followed by a partial descent to the finish.

The competition itself takes its toll on the professional riders, with not every rider being able to complete the ride to Paris. We have so far seen crashes and injuries which have ended many riders' hopes on being able to complete all 21 stages this year.

Riders train all year for this very competition and have the best teams of physiotherapist's and health clinicians with them throughout their time, however sometimes this is not enough to avoid injury due to the pressure placed on the body.

There are some injuries more common than others for cyclists, with lower body injuries more frequent due to the type of sport cycling is. Muscle injuries can cause havoc for riders, especially during the intensive uphill climbs. Thigh strains can hamper any attempt to make such climbs and typically involve strains to the quadriceps, which are the muscles at the front of the thigh.

The majority of muscle strains are self-limiting and simply require rest and the use of ice to reduce any inflammation, the former being something riders in the Tour De France don't have time for. Continuing any sport when injured can have further repercussions, therefore it is always best to be sensible. As part of a rehabilitation programme some riders opt to wear a thigh support which can help control the injury.

A thigh support is designed to offer the wearer additional protection through compression of the affected area. Compression can work to reduce pain and inflammation whilst allowing the continuation of a sporting activity. They could also serve as a preventative tool against subsequent injury in the future.

Another common injury, which can affect all ages and levels of ability, affects the knee joint. For those of the older generation knee injuries can become degenerative and lead to things such as osteoarthritis, whereas other forms of injury can be as simple as a sprain. Depending on the knee injury incurred it is important to rest and apply ice to manage the inflammation and if you are still in discomfort after a couple of days then seek clinical advice.

The severity of a knee injury will dictate the course of rehabilitation offered. A simply sprain can be managed via rest and even through the use of a knee support when exercising in the future. A knee support is designed to offer the wearer additional protection as it offers compression which protects the knee by reducing its unnatural movement, which is the cause of many common sprains.

For more serious knee problems such as osteoarthritis, surgery is not necessarily the only route. The knee support market does cater for degenerative conditions in the form of unloader braces which are designed to take the pressure off the affected side of the knee and reduce the bone on bone contact felt by the sufferer. These types of braces are more expensive and should only be recommended and fitted by a professional as not all braces are suitable and you want to ensure you have the correct one fitted.

Cycling over long distances will take its toll on the body and the more you exercise the greater the chance of injury, some of which is preventable and some of which is not. Rest is the most important part of any rehabilitation programme and if in doubt you should seek advice from a clinician. The use of sports braces such as a can help manage an injury. With so many braces available on the market you should ask a clinician which one would be best for you before buying one.