Rene Mandri back in action

AG2R La Mondiale's Rene Mandri is back in action following a serious crash that put him off the bike for nearly three months. The 24 year-old Estonian crashed in the Giro d'Italia's stage six – suffering a broken vertebra and several fractured ribs and a perforated lung – but will return in the Classic de l'Indre this Sunday.

"I have resumed training in the last nine weeks and I no longer feel pain. Obviously, my current form is not very good, but my objective is to rediscover the sensations during the Classic de l'Indre for a solid season end. I am especially aiming for the races in October."

Mandri turned professional with AG2R in 2005. He rode one year for Auber 93 and recorded his first win, the Trophée Luc Leblanc. Last season, he rode the Vuelta a España, finishing top-ten three times, but this fall he will focus on one-day and short stage races.