Team Barloworld’s rider Mauricio Soler returned to Italy on Friday August 8, after spending about a month in Colombia with a plaster on his left hand and a wrist brace on his right one after the crash he suffered in the first stage of the 2008 Tour de France - an accident that forced him to withdrawal from La Grande Boucle a few days later.

In the last few days, Soler underwent some checks with Italian specialist dr. Archetti, that revealed a good calcification of the left wrist’s fracture and an important improvement in his ability to move his right hand. Nevertheless, he needs to continue physiotherapy and rehabilitation to enable a complete recovery.
 
The 2007 Tour de France’s King of the Mountains is expected to take part in Trofeo Melinda on August 23, which would then be his first race after the 2008 Tour de France. Afterwards he will face the Giro del Veneto, the Tour of Britain, the 2008 World Championships in Varese and some classic Italian races.

“He can’t wait to restart racing" DS Alberto Volpi said and added "...and he really wants to get back on his standard. Mauricio can now work without any kind pressure and the whole team will support him in this important period. Together with Team Manager Claudio Corti, we set up a training programme for him in order to regain a good shape after the period of inactivity”.