PETACCHI BACK ON BIKE IN 10 DAYS

Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) will be back on his bike in 10 day's time after doctors gave him the all clear to begin physiotherapy work on the left kneecap he fractured during the Giro d?Italia.

X-rays on Wednesday showed the fracture across his kneecap has healed and Petacchi can partially bend his knee. He will still have to wear a leg brace when walking but can now begin working on regaining complete movement and build up his legs muscles before riding his bike for the first time.

?I can?t wait to get back on my bike. I know I?m going to have to start from scratch and it?s going to hurt but I?m so determined to make a quick recover that I?ll have to be careful not to over do it,? Petacchi said.

The 32 year-old Italian will miss the Tour de France but hopes to start racing in early August and wants to ride the Vuelta Espana, starting on August 26.