Lance Armstrong, Markel Irizar and others react to Basso cancer news

Ivan Basso hasn't been short of well wishers since he announced that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in a rest-day press conference at the Tour de France on Monday.

The 37-year-old had felt a pain in his left testicle ever since a minor crash on stage 5 and after examination from the Tinkoff-Saxo medical staff and x-rays in the Tour’s mobile radiology unit, hospital tests in Pau on Monday morning confirmed he had a cancerous lump. He has left the race as he begins his recovery. 

Lance Armstrong was one of many to take to Twitter to voice support for Basso. The American himself suffered from testicular cancer in the late 1990s before recovering and making a successful return to cycling. 

See more

He was joined by another cyclist who has suffered from testicular cancer in the past, Markel Irizar. The 35-year-old Spaniard, who is currently at the Tour with Trek Factory Racing, fell ill back in 2002 before making a full recovery. 

See more

Tinkoff-Saxo owner Oleg Tinkov, teammates including Alberto Contador, and other names of the peloton past and present also tweeted their messages of condolence and support for Basso.

See more
See more
See more
See more
See more
See more
See more
See more

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1