Ivan Basso undergoes successful cancer surgery

Two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso undergoes surgery in Milan to remove his left testicle after the discovery of a cancerous tumour

Ivan Basso on stage eleven of the 2015 Tour of Italy

(Image credit: Watson)

Tinkoff-Saxo rider Ivan Basso will be released from hospital in Milan on Thursday after undergoing successful surgery to remove his left testicle.

The two-time Giro d'Italia winner abandoned the Tour de France on the rest day on Monday after scans in Pau revealed the presence of a testicular tumour.

Basso travelled immediately to Milan for surgery to remove the testicle, with surgery reportedly carried out by Professor Francesco Montorsi at Hospital San Raffaele in the northern Italian city.

The rider's partner, Micaela Beretti, posted a picture of the Basso smiling in his hospital bed on Wednesday afternoon.

Screen Shot 2015-07-15 at 14.28.32

Basso felt discomfort after crashing on stage five and got it checked out when the team reached Pau on Monday, revealing the presence of a tumour.

Steven de Jongh, sports director of Tinkoff-Saxo commented on Monday: “As everybody understands, today is not a day to speak about the Tour de France, the days ahead or Alberto’s main rivals on the mount stages.

“All that is irrelevant and we are all here solely to support Ivan. The entire team hopes to meet him again in Paris and hand him the yellow jersey.”

Check out Alberto Contador's 2015 Tour de France bike

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

Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.