Two-time world cycling champion Paolo Bettini was back on the track Thursday two days after falling and hitting his head at the prestigious Sei Giorni (Six Days) event at Rho outside Milan.
Bettini, 34, had hospital tests Tuesday night after a tangle with Yaroslav Popovych of Ukraine saw him spill off the track and bash against a wall.
He had a day off Wednesday before seeing if he was OK on a few trial runs on Thursday morning.
His team gave him the all-clear to return to this week's events at the EICMA Velodrome.
Bettini, one of Italy's best-known racers, has retired from road competition but is still on the track circuit.
He announced his retirement from road racing ahead of September's world championships where he missed out on a record third straight title.
His unfancied countryman Alessandro Ballan went on to win the September 28 race in the northern Italian city of Varese.
Bettini, nicknamed the Cricket for his compact size, jiggling riding style and propensity for surprise attacks, has been one of Italy's top riders over the last decade.
As well as his two world crowns he won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and a silver medal at the 2001 world championships.
Other trophies in Bettini's locker include the UCI Road World Cup series three times in succession, in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
He also won stages of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Tour of Spain and finished in ninth place at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
