Aerts' heart surgery sooner than planned

Mario Aerts could have another go in the early breakaway

Mario Aerts could have another go in the early breakaway (Image credit: Brecht Decaluwé)

Mario Aerts will undergo cardiac surgery next Wednesday, April 27, one month sooner than originally scheduled. The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider, who hopes to cure his cardiac arrythmia with the surgery, initially planned to have the operation carried out on May 24 - but this meant that any chances of riding the Tour de France this year would be doomed.