Paulo Bettini breaks a rib in Pais Vasco crash

Quick Step rider Paolo Bettini fractured a rib when he fell in Thursday’s fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque country, histeam said Saturday after he had hospital tests in Cecina, Italy.

“I have suffered a lot this past couple of days. I hurt all over but today I am a little more optimistic. Last year I rode more than two weeks at the Giro with a cracked rib,” said Bettini in a statement, promising to get back in the saddle as soon as possible.

FILED UNDER: Road TAGS: Tour of the Basque Country