Axelsson in cancer scare

The 34-year-old discovered the tumour during a routine medical check-up and was immediately taken to a hospital in Nice.

He told Swedish paper Falu-Kuriren: "Tests show that the cancer has not spread to other parts of my body, so that's good news but I feel a bit nervy right now.

"I hope I will be able to pursue my career as usual. The priority is to recover from all this but it takes patience and I shall not go back to cycling too early."

Axelsson was second in September's Giro di Romagna for the UCI Continental team who were selected as a wildcard for this year's Giro.

The Swede has previously ridden for Universal Caffe-Styloffice, Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave, Alessio, Mercury, Panaria, Navigare, Scrigno and Palmans was third in the 2000 Tour of Lombardy but was banned for two years in 2002 after he admitted taking EPO.