Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack), who crashed in yesterday's prologue of the 2010 Paris-Nice, has been successfully operated on by Dr. Lenaert and his colleagues of the OLV van Lourdes Hospital in Waregem, Belgium. Dr. Sioen, orthopedist, fixed the left collar bone fracture with a solid plate and nine screws.

Most likely Gert Steegmans will be able to ride on the rollers within a week. Competition however is excluded for a longer period . If no complications occur, the doctors expect a full recovery after eight weeks.

Steegmans suffered several deep road rashes on the left side of his body. These were cleaned and will likely heal over the next few weeks. A hospitalization of two days is expected.