Owain Doull facing month on sidelines after undergoing appendectomy
Tuesday 17 January 2017 12:50, UK
Olympic pursuit champion Owain Doull faces a delayed start to his season after having surgery to remove his appendix in Australia on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Welshman, a team pursuit gold medallist alongside Sir Bradley Wiggins at Rio 2016, was originally slated to ride in the Tour Down Under this week.
Doull withdrew from the season-opening race on Monday and was replaced by Team Sky debutant Kenny Elissonde, who had been with the team training in Australia.
Team Sky doctor Neil Heron said: "Initially Owain had a stomach bug and he had those symptoms for around 36 hours.
"He was starting to improve, but on Tuesday morning his stomach pain became a lot worse.
"We began to suspect appendicitis and he was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital where they confirmed the suspected diagnosis.
"The earliest he will leave the hospital is Thursday and recovery and recuperation is likely to take at least four weeks.
"Owain is obviously disappointed, but he appreciates he needs to be 100 per cent fit to get back racing."
Sky's Danny van Poppel finished second in Tuesday's opening stage, which had to be shortened by nearly 30km because of extreme heat.
