Giovanni Visconti was the biggest victim in yesterday's crash-marred People's Choice Classic when the Italian hit the deck and broke his right leg's tibia. Today he had successful surgery in Adelaide and will stay in Australia for three days but is not expected to return to competition until after at least five weeks of recovery.

Giovanni Visconti had hoped to use the Tour Down Under to prepare for another successful season after his great 2013 where he won two stages of the Giro d'Italia. Instead of using the next week to hone his condition, he will, however, spend the time in a hospital bed after crashing in yesterday's People's Choice Classic which precedes the Australian WorldTour race.

Viconti went down after only 6 laps and was transported away from the scene in an ambulance. It was later announced that he had fractured the tibia in his right leg and that he will face a long period of recovery.

Today he had successful surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital to reduce the fracture. He will stay in the medical center for three days before being released and flying back to Europe next week with the rest of his team-mates at the end of the Tour Down Under. The recovery will depend on the evolution of his injuries, yet Visconti is expected to stay at least five weeks away from the roads.

The crash is a hard blow for the Italian who will find it difficult to reach his best condition for the Ardennes classics. He is likely to focus on the Giro d'Italia where he will aim to repeat last year's successful ride.