London, Mar. 26 : Cycling champion Lance Armstrong’s broken collarbone will take at least eight weeks to heal, a surgeon who operated on him, has said.

Seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong yesterday had successful surgery on the injury he suffered in a crash on Monday.

Armstrong, 37, had a five-inch stainless steel plate and 12 screws inserted to repair the collarbone, which was broken in four places.

“Normally we see eight to 12 weeks for something like this to heal completely,” the Daily Express quoted Dr. Doug Elenz, an Austin orthopaedic surgeon, as saying.

That timeframe would appear to put Armstrong’s appearance in the Giro d’Italia – which starts on May 9 – in real jeopardy.

Before the operation, Armstrong was hopeful of riding in the Giro.

Dr Elenz revealed Armstrong’s injury was more complex than first thought, the surgery taking almost three hours. (ANI)