Bruyneel: Giro still possible for Armstrong

Astana team director Johan Bruyneel doesn't believe Lance Armstrong's crash at Vuelta a Castilla y León on Monday will prevent him from contesting the Giro d'Italia in May. The Belgian knows Armstrong's injury will hamper the American's preparation and fitness levels, but believes it will not stop his participation in either the Giro or Tour de France.

"Personally, I think it is still possible to take part in the Giro," Bruyneel told AFP. "[It] changes the way we approach the season from now until the Tour de France. [But] in terms of being there at start of the Tour, it changes nothing at all."

"For the moment, we are sticking largely with the same schedule. He was going to be leaving for the US after this race and then come back for the Giro, so for the moment nothing has changed."

Armstrong left Spain on Tuesday, headed for his home in Texas, United State of America where he will undergo surgery. "Obviously, it's not a good thing, but his head hit the ground quite hard and his helmet was broken," added Bruyneel. "A broken collarbone is not a bad outcome given the circumstances. It's one of the breaks that takes least time to heal.

"I think that he has faced much harder things than this. A broken collarbone, obviously it's not nice, but it's not the end of the world."