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Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara says his build-up to the London Olympics will continue unchanged despite having undergone surgery for a four-part fracture of his right collarbone.
The Olympic time-trial champion sustained the injury in a fall during last weekend’s Tour of Flanders classic, which was won by Belgium’s Tom Boonen for a record-equalling third time.
RadioShack-Nissan team doctor Andreas Goesele explained that a “more natural” clavicle pin had been used to put the bone together during surgery rather than using a plate and screws.
“The pin will be removed once the fracture is completely healed, at the very earliest in six weeks’ time. But this is really a small routine operation,” Goesele said, adding that Cancellara would in theory be fit enough to train on an ergometer.
Cancellara said: “I’m happy that the surgery went so well but I’m still in pain. I’m going to rest a couple of days, maybe even a week, and then resume training.
“I had two major goals this season: the classics and the Olympics. The spring campaign is unfortunately over for me now. Because I had planned a break after the classics anyway, my build-up towards London will not change.
“The plan is that I return to competition in May, possibly the Bayern Rundfahrt, as I did last year.”
Cancellara was matter-of-fact about the crash, saying it was “part of cycling, and in a way it’s also part of life”.
“I have been working really hard in the last four months to be in the best shape possible for the big races and I’m confident that I would have performed well.
“However, I’m glad I only broke my collarbone and that everything else is okay. I’ll be back!”
He added that the fact his wife Stephanie was expecting a second baby meant he was “even more motivated to train hard and aim high for the Olympics”.
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