Freire returns to racing

Oscar Freire will make his return to racing next week in the Vuelta al País Vasco. The Rabobank sprinter has not raced since a serious crash in the Tour of California the middle of February.

The Spaniard went down in the fourth stage in California, breaking two ribs. He has been unable to race since then.

Freire is still having problems with his ribs and with breathing, but knows that he needs to get the race kilometres in, Directeur Sportif Erik Breukink told HLN.be. "That is the only way he can be fit in time for the Amstel Gold Race."

País Vasco starts Monday, April 6, and runs through Saturday, April 11. (SW)