Spanish cyclist Pedro Horrillo was brought out of an artificially-induced coma on Sunday the day after he sustained serious injuries in a crash during the Tour of Italy, race organisers said.
The 34-year-old crashed into a ravine on the descent of the Culmine di San Pietro mountain about 70km into the 209km eighth stage and was airlifted to hospital in Bergamo.
Horrillo sustained fractures to his thigh bone, knee and neck and had difficulty in breathing properly.
The Spaniard was due to undergo an operation on his kneecap and thighbone on Sunday afternoon.
A hospital scan however showed that there had been no brain damage.
According to Rabobank team doctor, Dr Leinders, Horrillo could be transferred to a hospital in Bilbao, Spain within eight to 10 days depending on his medical condition.