Moletta in rehabilitation

Andrea Moletta is in the middle of rehabilitation following surgery on his broken thigh, and plans to ride the Vuelta a Espana, Team Gerolsteiner has reported.

"This guy just overflows with optimism," said team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. "The rehabilitation after his operation is in full gear. Every day he has a mix of physical therapy, gymnastics and underwater training. And he wants to make his first try on the bike again in the middle of May and be fit for the Vuelta."

"We would all be very happy if Andrea returns to the team this year before the end of the season. I've had to slow him down a little though in all his optimism, because such a serious injury simply needs a long time to heal," Holczer said.

Moletta broke his thigh in a spectacular crash on the Cipressa in the finale of Milano-Sanremo the end of March.