Petacchi aims for Paris-Tours

While the Tour de France went into its fifth stage, Alessandro Petacchi has come done his first training ride on the road after two months. After crashing at the Giro d’Italia, the Milram sprinter has to build up his form slowly - but he did cover about sixty kilometres between Marina di Massa and Viareggio.

"I have finally done the first training on the road and for me it’s very important to program my comeback to competition," Petacchi said after his ride. "I haven't recovered the mobility of my knee completely, but it's enough to turn the pedals. The muscular tone of the left leg is really nonexistent, but considering that I had to stop for sixty days I think it’s normal."

Petacchi thinks he might be able to use the Vuelta a España to get racing kilometres in his legs again. "My come back will be difficult to program," he said. "I hope to do the Vuelta a España to aim at Paris-Tours. It would be a great end of season as it would consecrate the thirteen victories I have until now."