Petacchi to miss Giro d'Italia with bronchitis

ROME, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Italian Alessandro Petacchi has been out of the ProTour cycling race Giro d'Italia this month with bronchitis and Germany's Erik Zabel will take his place, Team Milram said on Saturday.

"With regret I have to give up the Giro d'Italia," said the sprint specialist, who has 24 Giro stage victories to his name.

"Up until yesterday I was convinced I would go, even though I was in a terrible state.

"But after discussions with General Manager Gerry Van Gerven, we have decided not to rush things this time and prepare for the Tour de France in the best of ways, without risking a relapse," he said in a statement.

The 34-year-old caught bronchitis during the Tour of Turkey a fortnight ago, since when he has been on a course of antibiotics which have prevented him from training.

Petacchi is awaiting a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling on whether he should serve a ban for testing positive for salbutamol during last year's race.

The three-week Giro starts next Saturday.