Quick Step rider Iljo Keisse underwent successful surgery at the Herentals Clinic in Belgium yesterday to stabilize the fracture to his left collarbone. Keisse was set to ride in the track World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark this week, when teammate Jonathan Dufrasne went down in front of him and sent him crashing down onto the boards.
During the examination doctors saw that the Belgian also experienced ligament trauma to his left shoulder. He's now forced to rest and recover from his injuries, and the team doctors will evaluate his condition again in two weeks time. At that point they will decide when it will be safe for him to resume training on his bike.
Keisse spent 2009 riding in the elite category without contract for the Saey-Deschacht cycling team. This was the direct result of an immediate termination of his contract with Belgian Pro-continental team Topsport-Vlaanderen following a positive test in the Gent Six Day in 2008. Late last year Keisse was cleared of any intentional doping charges and was able to begin searching for a new professional team. Patrick Lefevere decided to take on the Belgian talent, whose best result so far with the team has been sixth place in stage four of the Volta ao Algarve.