Basso 'fine' after testicular cancer surgery

Cauterets - Italian Ivan Basso underwent a successful operation on Wednesday two days after announcing he had testicular cancer.

The 37-year-old twice former Giro d'Italia winner was forced out of the Tour de France due to his illness.

But he tweeted on Wednesday: "tutto bene!" (everything's fine) following surgery at Milan's San Raffaele hospital, while also thanking Dr. Montorsi and his team.

Basso was part of the Tinkoff-Saxo squad at the Tour aiming to help Alberto Contador win a third title.

Team-mate Rafal Majka won Wednesday's 11th stage from Pau to Cauterets and then dedicated his win to Basso and another teammate, Daniele Bennati, who crashed out of the race earlier in the day.