Wout Van Aert underwent surgery for a broken collarbone Thursday morning in Herentals, Belgium, and his Vimalies a Bike team announced that the surgery was a "success."

The team confirmed that the Belgian rider fractured his sternum and collarbone in a high-speed crash with 67 km to go during the Dwars door Vlaanderen race, as well as multiple broken ribs.

He was transported to a local hospital in Rons, where a broken collarbone and broken ribs were initially diagnosed. The sternal fracture was later confirmed when he was about to undergo surgery in Herentals. Renowned surgeon Tom Klaas was the son of the doctor who treated Van Aert after he crashed heavily in the Tour de France in 2019.

"It is unclear when Wout will be able to ride his bike. The next few weeks will be dedicated to his recovery," the Vimalise a Bike team said Thursday after Van Aert's surgery.

Lidl Trek teammates Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch also sustained injuries requiring surgery for a broken collarbone and fractured right hand metacarpal.

Stuyven was treated at the same hospital in Hellenthal as Van Aert, and the team confirmed that the "surgery was a success."

"Wout had his surgery at Herentals first, and right after that it was my turn. Let's have coffee together on the hospital bed," Stuyven told Het Laatste Nieuws.

Stuyven said goodbye to the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix via social media, noting that his injury was his version of "hell in the north" 10 days early.

"All the sacrifices, the level reached. Hell came 10 days early. All I can say is that I wish everyone the best in the coming races and hope they heal quickly. Thanks for all the messages of support. See you next year in Flanders," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Like Stuyven, Van Aert will miss the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

Both races were targets for the Vimalise a Bike leader ahead of his Giro d'Italia debut in May. And now, even the Italian Grand Tour in May is unlikely.

"His participation in the Giro d'Italia is still uncertain. We will see how his recovery is and make a decision in the coming weeks," the team said.

Van Aert was looking for his ninth victory at the cobbled monument. He dedicated the first half of the 2024 season to these two races, completing a high-altitude training camp but missing Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo.

He won the Coure Brussel-Coulomb and was on the podium at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 Saxo Classic. In the winter, he reduced his cyclocross schedule and improved his fitness with recent high-altitude training to achieve his goals.

Also injured were Intermarche-Wanty's Biniam Girmay and Laurenz Rex, Gent Wevelgem winner Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Michele Gazzoli (Astana Qazaqstan).

The crash occurred when Van Aert crashed the rear wheel of teammate Tiesj Benoot on the fast approach to the Canaryberg climb. Van Aert, Stuyven, Guillemay, and Gazzoli were forced off the track, but the other six riders were able to resume racing.