U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong is having surgery Wednesday morning to repair a broken collar bone he suffered in a race in Spain earlier this week.
“Good morning. Ready to get this over with. “Higs” (my manager) will update when it’s over and keep y’all updated,” he Tweeted before going into surgery.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, is having the surgery in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Surgeons plan to fix the break by inserting a plate to mend pieces of broken bone. The break to his right collarbone — suffered in a crash Monday in the first stage of the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon race in northern Spain — was originally thought to be cleaner and less complicated.
Sports medicine specialist Dr. Douglas Elenz, an orthopedic surgeon, will insert the plate to stabilize the collarbone.
Armstrong, 37, is attempting to make a comeback after retiring in 2005. He still plans to ride in the Giro d’Italia in May, then return to the Tour de France, July 4-26.
Armstrong, who rides for the Astana cycling team, had testicular cancer in 1996 that had spread to his lungs and brain. He has said the main reason for his comeback is to promote cancer awareness and research through his Livestrong organization.
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