Italian Team Lampre rider and sprinter ace Alessandro Petacchi has pulled out of the Spanish Vuelta on its first rest day after injuring himself in a large pileup during the eighth stage of the race.

The crash occurred 6.8 miles from the start of the stage Saturday and involved a number of the leading riders.

A statement on the Lampre website Monday said the fall gave Petacchi cuts that could not be treated by a masseur.

Petacchi said "I can't hold the handlebar."

Petacchi rode on after the crash with a badly torn outfit and a bloody lower back, finishing 124th in the stage.

The 36-year-old rider had won Friday's seventh stage, impressively the 20th Vuelta stage win of his career.