It has been eventually confirmed by the Lampre-Merida that Chris Horner, expected to play a leadership role in this year’s Giro d’Italia, will not participate in the Italian grand Tour as a consequence of injuries sustained in the training crash.

Reportedly, Horner collided with a car during his training ride around Lake Como last week and suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs and punctured lung. In the interview for TeleUnica, the Lampre-Merida rider informed that he will be forced to stay in the hospital two more weeks what obviously pulls him out of the Giro d’Italia.

The 42-year old American still hopes to recover quickly enough to contest the Tour de France instead of the Italian grand tour, however, he also hinted that his appearance at the Vuelta a Espenia, in which he would defend his 2013 title, is more probable.

“I think I can recover in a right time to participate in the Tour de France, but there is also Vuelta a Espana and I don’t know what the team will decide. For now I have to think about myself and I would certainly recover better for Vuelta, of which I have wonderful recollections from last year and which suits my characteristics better,” Horner told TeleUnica.