Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) lasted just 110km of today’s fifth stage of Paris-Nice, between Suze-la-Rousse and Sisteron, before climbing into his team car. The Italian two-time Giro d’Italia winner was one of the big victims of a crash strewn second stage, which saw the peloton split in the crosswinds. He was back on his bike quickly at the time, but has been struggling on virtually every climb since, losing big time virtually every day.
“Parigi Nizza ... KO !!!” the 34-year-old posted to his Twitter page, shortly after the stage finish.
The Italian, who will be aiming at a third Giro victory in less than two months, seriously bruised his chest on his stage two fall, and has taken the precautionary decision to finally pull out.
"Ivan has been feeling the bruises he suffered for the full distance,” explained team doctor Emilio Magni. “On Wednesday evening, at the end of the fourth stage, he had developed a painful right haemothorax due to a bruised rib. Yesterday he persisted and it was bearable but today, because of a fast start to the stage, has to be withdrawn.
“As a precaution we carried out a chest x-ray which, fortunately, did not reveal any rib fracture,” he added.
"Ivan did well to bite the bullet,” said directeur sportif Mario Scirea, “but today the situation became really unbearable. The group went ‘a blocco’ from the first kilometre and, seeing him in trouble, we decided to stop.”
Basso will return to Italy tomorrow, where the Liquigas-Cannondale medical team will define a programme for recovery.