Ivan Basso quits Tour de France after testicular cancer diagnosis

Ivan Basso has quit the Tour de France after being diagnosed with testicular cancer during the race.

The 37-year-old Italian, who is one of Alberto Contador’s team-mates, announced the news at Tinkoff-Saxo’s rest-day press conference, just a couple of hours after finding out himself.

Basso, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2006 and 2010, complained of pain after a crash on stage five and a tumour was detected in a scan on Monday morning.

He said: "Unfortunately I have a bad announcement. On stage number five I had a really small crash, but I touched my testicle on the saddle and for a few days I felt a small pain.

"Yesterday we spoke with the doctor of the Tour de France and we decided to have it analysed in hospital.

"I have a small cancer in the left testicle, so you can understand that I have to stop and go back to Italy. Our doctor is already in contact with the specialist in Italy to fix the operation as soon as possible.

"We discovered this two hours ago. I have to leave. I want to give my support to our captain [Contador] to be in yellow in Paris. Thanks to my team for their support in this situation and the Tour medical staff."

Tinkoff-Saxo doctor Piet De Moor added: "Basso suffered from a minor crash in which his left testicle was slightly injured. As the pain persisted, a lump was discovered and, following further examination on Monday morning at the hospital in Pau, the presence of a tumor was confirmed." 

Contador was sitting next to Basso in the press conference and was visibly emotional as the news was announced.

He said in a team statement: "On behalf of the entire team, I would like to say that it has been a blow to all of us. We never imagined such a thing would happen.

"Ivan's health is the absolute priority and he has to undergo all the necessary tests to find the best solution. I would like to stress that the entire team will give its best in order to get the yellow jersey and enjoy it in Paris with him."

Tinkoff-Saxo sports director Steven de Jongh added: “We will try to meet Ivan in Paris with the yellow jersey."

Basso was set to play a key supporting role for Contador in the Tour's mountain stages, the first of which is on Tuesday in the Pyrenees.

Lance Armstrong, who also suffered from testicular cancer, tweeted: "Thinking about @ivanbasso and wishing him the very best as he embarks on his cancer journey. #IvanSTRONG!!"