On Monday, Astana confirmed that Fabio Aru would miss the Giro d’Italia after injuring his left knee in a training crash in Sierra Nevada.
“As a consequence of his fall while training in Spain, Fabio Aru was examined this afternoon in Milan by the Professor Comb –the diagnosis speaks of pre patellar bursitis that causes pain when he pedals,” a statement said.
The team announced Wednesday that Italian Michele Scarponi will now be the GC leader for the team. The 37-year-old won the Giro in 2011.
“He will replace Fabio Aru, who is forced to skip the race due to the knee injury,” said general manager Alexandr Vinokurov.
“Fabio has to pass the full treatment and recovery from his injury, so he won’t be able to start in his home race. For all of us, his good and full recovery is [the priority], while his further calendar will depend on the time of recovery and the results in the first races after it.”
“I’m so sorry and disappointed for what happened,” Aru said. “I was dreaming of the Giro start in my Sardinia and we were preparing the Giro for months. Unfortunately, the accident occurred, and won’t allow me to be at the start in sufficient conditions, and albeit with great regret, we are forced to give up.”
