Colli’s operation successful, injured rider to make police complaint against photographer on Saturday

One day after he was brought down by an unnamed individual holding a telephoto lens close to the finish line of the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia, Daniele Colli’s Nippo-Vini Fantini team has confirmed that the rider will lodge a police complaint in relation to the matter on Saturday.

“Tomorrow morning Daniele will report to the police about the unknown spectator that caused yesterday’s fall,” said the team in a statement issued Friday evening.

Colli suffered a compound fracture to his humerus in the crash, with the impact against the camera lens breaking his upper arm and sending him to the ground. Television images from the fall showed his limb twisted around 180 degrees, bringing home the seriousness of the injury.

He was, unsurprisingly, brought to hospital and was treated there on Friday.

“The rider has been operated today by Doctor Londini from Grosseto hospital,” stated the team. “The surgery went well and Daniele will stay in the hospital until next week when he will be able to come back home and, day by day, return to home training.”

Colli is a cancer survivor who almost lost his leg to the disease, but who was able to return to the sport. The 33 year old is a past winner of a stage in the Tour of Austria and this year was a fine fifth in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

His team-mate Pierpaolo De Negri flew the flag on stage seven, being involved in the day’s break which gained more than ten minutes.