Fausto Masnada underwent a medical procedure last Friday: "I am hoping this is a permanent solution"

Fausto Masnada underwent a medical procedure last Friday to treat his severe saddle sore, causing the Italian climber to perform far beyond the level he would have hoped for, as he informs on his social media.

"The last twelve months have not been easy for me, with a persistent saddle sore causing me a lot of discomfort on the bike. It sounds obvious, but a saddle sore is a big problem when you spend a lot of your time on a bike."

"With the support of the Soudal Quick-Step medical team, I underwent a procedure carried out by Dr Antonino Cassisi, who is a renowned expert in this field and has treated many other leading cyclists, with great success. Dr Cassisi has advised me that the procedure went well and that I will need four weeks off the bike to recover from the recovery."

"I am hoping this is a permanent solution, and I can get back to enjoying racing and training with my teammates. It is disappointing to miss part of my season. I am hoping that I can maybe ride a few races at the end of the season."