Surgery to repair Armstrong's collarbone

Lance Armstrong was to have surgery Wednesday to repair a broken collarbone but still believes he could be fit to race the Giro d'Italia in May, the seven-time Tour de France champion said.

"At home finally. Whew. Long coupla days. Surgery at 7am tomorrow," Armstrong wrote on the Twitter website after arriving in Austin, Texas.

He elaborated in a conference call with reporters from several US media outlets, including the New York Times.

"It's a very common cycling injury, so you hear of guys who have raced two weeks later, and guys who have raced two months later. In my opinion, I think the Giro is still very doable," Armstrong said.

The US cycling legend broke his collarbone when he fell along with several other riders about 20 kilometres 32 miles from the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Castilla y Leon on Monday.

The surgery, which involves inserting a metal plate to stabilize the injury, was decided on after further tests showed it was not a clean break.

A cancer survivor who went on to claim a record seven Tour de France crowns, Armstrong ended a three-and-a-half year retirement at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January.

The 37-year-old declared his goal this year is to win an eighth Tour de France title.

Johan Bruyneel, manager of Armstrong's Astana team, had already said in Spain that he believed Armstrong could be back in action for the Giro, with the American's prospects of racing in the Tour de France even better.

"A broken collarbone in March does not change anything as regards the Tour de France," which starts on July 4, Bruyneel said.

"For the moment, we are sticking largely with the same schedule. He was going to be leaving for the US after this race and then come back for the Giro, so for the moment nothing has changed," he told reporters before the start of the second stage of the Tour of Castilla y Leon in central Spain.

"Personally, I think it is still possible to take part in the Giro," which starts on May 9, but he is "still going to be less fit," said the Belgian.





Bleier