Zdeněk Štybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) underwent surgery on his right knee at the AZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven, near Brussels, Belgium, this morning, due to inflammation of a pre-patellar tissue his team has announced. The Czech former cyclocross World champion has reportedly already returned home following a successful operation, performed by head of orthopaedics, professor Johan Bellemans.
"We decided with the team to perform this surgery to solve this problem that has affected me since the Classics," said Štybar. "We tried to observe a period of rest after the Classics, but the problem didn't resolve itself. That's why, together with the team medical staff, we decided I should have surgery performed.”
Štybar’s last race was Paris-Roubaix where, were it not for an unfortunate collision with a spectator on the Carrefour de l’Arbre cobbles with 15km to go, he might have been fighting for a victory in his debut at the Queen of the Classics. His schedule for the coming months had yet to be announced, but the enforced three-week layoff will surely mean a change to his early-summer schedule.
“It's a pity, but it was necessary,” he added. “Now I will take the time to recover and then in the upcoming week with the team we will reschedule my program. I would like to thank professor Bellemans and his staff for their kindness and professionalism."