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Astana have downplayed reports that 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fabio Aru could recover from his knee injury and possibly start the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Giro d'Italia, pointing out that his injury and long spell off theဣ bike have seriously compromised his early season form.

The Sardinian crashed at an altitude training camp on April 2 after a tyre blow out, suffering knee cartilage damage. Aru and the Astana team confirmed on April 10 that he would 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:miss the Giro d'Italia, with Michele Scarponi promoted as new team leader for the corsa rosa.

Scarponi won the opening stage of the Tour of the Alps on Monday, giving Astana its first road race win of 2017. On Tuesday, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the vetera📖n Italian had revealed th🌠at Aru has in fact not given up hope of riding the Giro.

"I beli💎eve that Aru is working hard to🦹 try and recover, so he can be at the start. It all depends on what the doctors say but if he makes it, I'd be really happy," La Gazzetta quoted Scarponi as saying.

Aru also fuelled the tifosi's hopes of seeing him line-up in Sardinia on May 5 by posting a tweet of him undergoing a long physiotherapy session on Easter Monday. La Gazzetta quoted him as saying: "Me at the Giro? I'd love to 🌞be there. But the doctors tell me not to do anything crazy."

The reports sparked speculation that Aru could at least start the Giro d'Italia in front of his local fans in Sardinia, possibly with the hope of finding some form during the three weeks of racing and so perhaps target a stage victory or build his form for the Tour de France.

"Des🦹pite this unhappy situation, we don't talk about any great changes in our program. We are looking forward to the Giro d'Italia with the team we have,🏅 as well as to the Tour de France where Jakob Fuglsang, as was planned, is preparing to take a leading spot."