McGee to 'face reality'

Australia's Bradley McGee has spoken about undergoing surgery in an attempt to fix an ongoing back injury once and for all. The Française des Jeux rider's manager revealed over the weekend that McGee would again be sidelined from the Tour de France as he attempts to fix the injury.

"It is time to face facts and realise the band-aid treatment of my sciatica problem is not going to support my professional cycling ambitions," stated the rider on his website, www.bradleymcgee.com. "It seems I can hold the condition at ease through 95 percent of my job requirements but given a time trial or heavy power down in climbing I find the problem resurfacing almost every time. Not good enough."

The 2004 Olympic Gold medallist had shown that he was on the road to recovery during the Tour of Picardy, where he launched an impressive attack before a bunch sprint finish, but he was forced to pulled out of the weekend's Tour de Lorraine.

"Having put it off and used alternatives I will now go ahead with a surgeon's skills and hopefully put an end to the rollercoaster," added McGee. "Less concerned I am of the procedure then the fact that if it doesn't work I am no longer to be a competitive professional cyclist."

Should the surgery be a success, McGee will be watching the 2007 Tour from the comfort of his home while he recovers, with an expected return to the bike slated for August through to October.