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.

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