Australian pre-race favourite Richie Porte is out of the Tour de France after a heavy crash on stage nine left him with a fractured collarbone and pelvis.

In the final descent to Chambery, Porte missed a downhill bend, cartwheeling across the road and bowling over another rider, Dan Martin, before hitting a rocky bank.

Live broadcasts on French television showed Porte lying motionless in the road being treated by a medic, before being loaded into an ambulance wearing a neck brace.

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"He was conscious, it's reassuring, he is being transferred to the hospital," race doctor Florence Pommery said.

Porte was in a group of seven riders, including race leader Chris Froome, who were descending from the last of seven climbs during Sunday's mountain stage.

The Australian had been fifth overall.

"Normally, a fractured clavicle and pelvis would require four to six weeks' recovery, providing there are no complications," BMC team doctor 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.

"Based on Richie's recovery, we will re-evaluate his program for the rest of the season in consultation with BMC Racing Team management."

"I was looking at him, he was in pain," Porte's sports director Fabio Baldato said.

"He was always conscious. He was asking for his helmet and his glasses."

Sunday's ninth stage was a punishing trek in the Alps, featuring three out-of-category climbs and ending with a treacherous descent to Chambery.

Geraint Thomas of Team Sky also crashed out of the race earlier in the day.

The stage was won by Colombia's Rigoberto Uran. Froome remained in the yellow jersey.

Porte slammed into rocks after missing a bend on a narrow mountain road ( Reuters: Benoit Tessier, file photo )

ABC/wires