Italian cyclist Ivan Basso has been ruled out of the Tour de France halfway through the competition after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. 義大利職業車手Ivan Basso 在被診斷出睪丸癌後宣布退出本屆環法賽事
The 37-year-old, who races for Russian-owned Tinkoff-Saxo as a teammate of former champion Alberto Contador, announced his withdrawal during an emotional press conference on Monday, shortly after receiving the diagnosis from a doctor. 這位37歲,隸屬俄羅斯Tinkoff-Saxo 車隊的車手, 同時也是前冠軍Alberto Contador的隊友, 在收到醫生的診斷報告後, 隨即在週一的記者會中宣布他的退賽,
"For a few days I felt a small pain," he said in Pau, France, the site of the tour's first rest day. "Yesterday our doctor spoke with the doctor of the Tour and we decided to go to make a special analysis to the hospital." "The examination gave me bad news; I have a small cancer in the left testicle," he said.
Team doctor Piet De Moor confirmed the diagnosis. "On stage five of the Tour de France, Basso suffered from a minor crash in which his left testicle was slightly injured," he said via a statement on the team's website. 隊醫Piet De Moor 確認了這個診斷. "在環法賽的第五天, Basso的左睪丸在一次小摔車中受到輕傷," 他在車隊官網上說明
"As the pain persisted, a lump was discovered and following further examination on Monday morning at the hospital in Pau, the presence of a tumor was confirmed." "然而隨著疼痛的持續, 有顆塊狀體被發現, 並在週一早上於波城醫院的檢查中確認是腫瘤."
Teammate Contador was visibly emotional at Basso's side during the press conference. "We never imagined such a thing would happen," Contador said. "Ivan's health is the absolute priority and he has to undergo all the necessary tests to find the best solution. I'd like to stress that the entire team will give its best in order to get the yellow jersey and enjoy it in Paris with him."
Well wishers flooded Twitter with messages of support for Basso, most notably cylcing stars including testicular cancer survivors Markel Irizar and Lance Armstrong -- who famously conquered the disease at age 25, despite catching it in its third stage.
"During the 120 days that Ivan and I spent together, over the last 180 days, I was able to see what a great champion he is," added Contador. "I'm sure he will overcome this and we will see him in two weeks in Paris." Basso won the Giro d'Italia in 2006 and 2010, his greatest triumphs to date. Contador is one of the favorites for this year's Tour and he currently trails leader Chris Froome by one minute and three seconds.
But Tinkoff-Saxo's Head Sport Director Steven de Jongh insisted that Basso's health is the team's primary concern, although they hope to honor him by helping Contador to victory in Paris on July 26. "As everybody understands, today is not a day to speak about the Tour de France, the days ahead or Alberto's main rivals on the mount stages. All that is irrelevant and we are all here solely to support Ivan," said De Jongh. "The entire team hopes to meet him again in Paris and hand him the yellow jersey."
但是Tinkoff-Saxo的運動總監 Steven de Jongh強調Basso的健康才是團隊的首要考量, 儘管他們希望經由協助Contator於7月26日在巴黎奪冠來榮耀他. "每個人都瞭解今天不是討論環法賽事的日子, 之前或之後Alberto在登山站的競爭對手, 我們今天在此主要就是力挺Ivan, 而其他都與此無關" De Jongh說. "全隊希望再次於巴黎聚首並親手交給他黃衫"
來源: CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/13/sport/ivan-basso-cancer-tour-de-france/index.html) 翻譯: Peter