Italian sprinter Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox) has been forced to abandon the Tour of Qatar after x-rays confirmed he fractured his scaphoid in his wrist.

Initial reports said Modolo had fractured his left scaphoid. Today, however, Modolo’s team have reported that Modolo has in fact fractured his right wrist. Modolo went to hospital in the Qatar capital of Doha before the start of the stage two team time trial. On his return, his teammates headed out for the 14km test against the clock while Modolo prepared to return to Italy.

“Due to a distraction, I fell down trying to ride over a step," Modolo said in a statement from the team.
 

"I’m sorry for the team, I arrived here in good shape and with the aim of achieving some good results in Qatar and then in Oman. Now I have to recover as quickly as possible and reschedule the first part of season from scratch."
 

Sacha Modolo travels back to Italy today and hopes to begin training on an indoor-trainer shortly. He had shown his early-season form by beating Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) to win stage two of the Tour de San Luis in Argentina.