Domenico Pozzovivo is scheduled to leave the hospital today after suffering serious facial injuries in his crash during Monday’s stage of the Giro d’Italia to Sestri Levante.

The Italian climber required 25 stiches in a head wound but was fortunate not to have suffered a head trauma. He is expected to travel to Pisa from the Genoa hospital and then fly to Lamezia Terme, near his home in Montalbano Jonico, in the south of Italy.

“In three or four days I hope to get back on my bike and start training again,” Pozzovivo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “First I’ve got to speak to the doctors because I don’t want to risk affecting by facial scars to make a quick recovery.”

“I feel better but I’m still tired. I can’t actually remember anything about the crash or the hundred metres before it. I couldn’t resist watching the Giro on television. It was good to see Formolo win but it hurts not being there. The Giro was my goal of the season. I hope to return in time for the Tour de Suisse. Riding the Tour would be a crazy idea but perhaps not too crazy…”