Gerrans out of the Games

Victorian cyclist Simon Gerrans has been forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games team.

He will instead undergo surgery in a French hospital tomorrow on his left shoulder after he developed an infection in the scar tissue from his recent surgery.

Gerrans underwent surgery five weeks ago to repair damage to his right shoulder and left collar bone injured in a crash during the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise event in France but had bravely fought back to regain race fitness and form for Melbourne. However early this morning doctors advised he will need further surgery to clean out the wound site and treat the infection which flared up during this week's Tirreno-Adriatico tour in Italy.

"While I was racing in Tirreno it swelled up and we kept icing it and settling it down but one night it didn't go down and just got more and more swollen and then it burst and it was full of pus," said a very disappointed Gerrans. "I am shattered because I worked so hard to get going again, back fit and racing so I could compete in the Commonwealth Games and I got so close but I can't do it."

Gerrans had been due to fly out tomorrow from France to Melbourne to join the team but will instead be in hospital.

"I'll go under the knife first thing in the morning (Thursday night Australian time) and I asked the specialist if I could still have the surgery and maybe delay my trip by a couple of days and still compete but he said not to risk it and wants me to have two weeks off the bike."

Gerrans believes it will be three weeks to a month before he will be racing again but is hoping to fly to Australia next week so he can head out to watch the road race on the final day of the Games and support the Australian team.

"I'll spend three or four days in hospital to get over the surgery and then because I won't be able to race anyway I'm planning to come home for a few weeks and recover in Australia and would like to head out and cheer on the guys."

Cycling Section Manager for the Commonwealth Games Team, Kevin Tabotta, says whilst disappointed with the news the greater concern is for Gerran's future career.

There is no doubt it is a blow to the Australian team but his long term health comes first and whilst he is bitterly disappointed he is also standing aside to ensure Australia has the best possible chance," said Tabotta. "A replacement for Simon will be announced in due course."

The GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise was Gerrans first race in Europe for 2006. Gerrans initial surgery involved doctors putting a pin through his left collar bone which was broken into three pieces in the crash.

They also screwed his right AC joint in place after it popped out due to a ligament tear. He was back in training within a week and returned to racing two weeks ago in the Milan-Turin event.