Vino in retirement rethink

ByReuters

Updated 20/08/2011 at 20:10 GMT

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov looks poised to come out of retirement and race in the season-ending Tour of Lombardy.

Astana rider Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan (2nd R) is carried by teammates after a fall during the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2011 cycling race from Issoire to Saint-Flour

Image credit: Reuters

The Olympic silver medallist quit after breaking his leg in July's Tour de France but he now wants to compete in Italy on October 15, with the London 2012 Games also in his mind.

"The exams revealed that I'm recovering very well from my injury after my crash in the last Tour de France. So, if everything goes well, I may compete in the Tour of Lombardy, which is the last race of the season and could be the last race to end my career," the 37-year-old said in a statement.

"This would be also a last occasion for me to contribute to increase the UCI points of Pro Team Astana and for the Kazakh Federation, in anticipation of the selections for the Olympic Games."

Tour de France