Alessandro Petacchi is in danger of missing the Olympics with a cracked rib and a badly bruised shoulder. The top Italian sprinter and world number one pulled out of the Tour de France after sustaining the injuries in a crash on the fifth stage.
An X-ray revealed the damaged rib, but the Fassa Bortlolo team doctor said he was more concerned by the 30-year-old rider's shoulder. "It will require around 30 days for it to heal," said Dr Emilio Magni.
"The pain will go away before that. But I am more concerned by the shoulder than the cracked rib."
Petacchi won nine stages in May's Giro d'Italia and after taking four sprints in last year's Tour de France was expected to be challenging for honours again.
However, he made little impact before pulling out while in 83rd place, 13 minutes off the pace.
The Olympic road race is scheduled for 14 August.
MMIX
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