Colombian cyclist Mauricio Soler has abandoned the Tour of Italy during its 16th stage. The rider was struggling with a knee injury and didn't feel fit enough to continue.
The Barloworld rider occupied the 37th place in the overall classification at 35 minutes from race leader Denis Menchov. In the Mountains classification, Soler was to be found in ninth position.
Soler won the Mountains jersey of the 2007 Tour de France and it is expected that the climbing specialist will try to win it again this year. His abandonment in the Giro d'Italia might in face be a security measure in order not to push his injury any further.
Fellow Colombian Jose Serpa did well in stage 16, finishing in ninth place at 2.35 from winner Carlos Sastre.
In the general classification, Serpa now occupies the 14th position. Mauricio Ardila is 46th and Félix Cárdenas is the final remaining Colombian in 63rd place.
