- Title: CYCLING-TOUR/BASSO-FILE Italian Basso quits Tour due to testicular cancer
- Date: 13th July 2015
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (FILE - JUNE 15, 2007) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF CYCLIST IVAN BASSO ARRIVING AT CYCLING FEDERATION DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE MEETING ROME, ITALY (FILE - MAY 2, 2007) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) BASSO ARRIVING, BEING APPROACHED BY FAN HOLDING CYCLING SHIRT AND THEN SURROUNDED BY MEDIA BASSO GOING UPSTAIRS MILAN, I
- Embargoed: 28th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Netherlands
- Country: Netherlands
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABSGS6CHGEUC6RB7144E2SKLYC
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3 MATERIAL
Former Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso withdrew from the Tour de France on Monday (July 13) after revealing he has testicular cancer.
Basso looked on course for Tour glory when he won the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider in 2002, in an era dominated by the disgraced Lance Armstrong, a testicular cancer survivor.
He never won the world's greatest race, however, finishing third and second overall in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Basso won the Giro twice -- his only grand tour titles -- thanks to impressive climbing performances.
His career, however, was stained with a two-year ban for his implication in the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal.
Basso admitted to "attempted doping" in 2007 and was hit by a backdated suspension.
He won the Giro less than two years after his comeback from suspension but only managed seventh in the 2007 Tour. He was one of Contador's lieutenants on this year's Tour having helped the Spaniard win the Giro last month. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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