CONTADOR TO CONTINUE IN GIRO D’ITALIA DESPITE ELBOW FRACTURE

Alberto Contador Giro 2008

Alberto Contador (Astana) has been diagnosed with a micro-fracture in his elbow but will continue in the Giro d?Italia.

The 2007 Tour de France winner crashed during Saturday?s eighth stage to Tivoli. He finished in the bunch on both Saturday and Sunday but an x-ray carried during Monday?s rest day revealed a small fissure fracture at the head of the radius bone of his left forearm.

Contador admitted he suffered during Sunday?s stage and could hardly change gears with his left hand, but is determined to continue in the Giro.

?I do not intend to leave the race,? he said in a statement issued by the Astana team.

?As all riders know, winning a Grand Tour takes some hard work, luck and health. Unfortunately, having a small fracture does not make the journey to Milan any easier, but I?m motivated and will try to fight through the pain.?

?During my training ride today, I felt my elbow, but I could do the normal or desired efforts. So, why should I leave the race? I?m tough, I?m going to stay. In the last few days my legs felt better and better. The longer I?m in the Giro, the better I feel. ?

Contador?s biggest problem could be Tuesday?s 39.4km time trial. He is likely to be in severe pain when he rest his forearms on his aero bars.

?I hope I still make a good time trial. The doctors have told me that it is a small fracture. With a bit luck, I can recover a bit during the ?easier? stages of Wednesday to Friday,? he said.

Contador is currently eighth overall in the Giro d?Italia, 7:56 behind race leader Giovanni Visconti of Italy.

After attacking with Danilo Di Luca (LPR), Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) during the first mountain stage of the Giro, Contador was expected to emerge as team leader at Astana for the second part of the Giro.

Now directeur sportif Sean Yates will have to hope Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer can take on Ricco in the Dolomites.

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: STAGE REPORTS

Stage nine: Cavendish misses out in sprint

Stage eight: Ricco wins again

Stage seven: Di Luca, Ricco and Contador gain time on rivals

Stage six: Italians clean upStage five: Millar denied by snapped chain

Stage four: Cavendish wins

Stage three: Bennati romps home

Stage two: Ricco wins Giro d'Italia second stage

Stage one TTT: Slipstream wins Giro team time trial

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: NEWS

Aggressive Cummings comes away empty handed [stage six]

Millar speaks out after missing out in Giro [stage five]

Reaction to Cavendish's Giro stage win

Cav hits back at Pozzato's snipe

Cavendish: This is my biggest win [stage four]

Millar celebrates Slipstream Giro d'Italia success

Bettini looking for final Giro glory

Astana's troubled build-up to the Giro

Petacchi banned for Salbutamol positive

Yates and Astana make last minute rush to Giro

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: PHOTOS

Giro d'Italia 2008: Photo gallery. New photos added daily

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: FEATURES

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)

Rest day 1: How the favourites are doing

Giro Britannia part two: From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia

Tuesday Comment (May 13): Why Cavendish is a bona fide world-class star

Giro Britannia: how the Brits are doing in Italy

Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

Giro d'Italia 2008: who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2008: The British are coming

Giro d'Italia on Eurosport: TV schedule

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.