Alberto Contador fit to start Giro d`Italia​ 7th stage

Former winner Alberto Contador started Friday`s seventh stage of the Giro d`Italia despite dislocating his shoulder in a heavy crash on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Spaniard, who took the race leader`s pink jersey following Wednesday`s fifth stage, was a doubt for the start in Grosseto after injuring himself in a mass crash during the sprint finish in Castiglione della Pescaia.

The 2008 Giro winner was in so much pain following Thursday`s stage that he couldn`t put on the race leader`s jersey when presented with it on the award podium.

He underwent X-ray and ultrasound tests following the stage.

However, following that Contador`s spokesman Jacinto Vidarte had told AFP: "He`s going to try and start with a bandage to support his arm.

"Nothing is broken. It`s not a fall as serious as that at the Tour de France last year."

Contador, the reigning Vuelta a Espana champion, was forced out of the Tour last year after a heavy fall on the 10th stage when he lost control of his bike on a speedy downhill section.

He fractured his tibia in that fall but was still able to come back two months later to win his third Vuelta crown.

Friday`s Giro stage is the longest of this year`s race at 264km, ending in Fiuggi.