Alex Dowsett out of the Giro d'Italia after undergoing collarbone surgery

Alex Dowsett will not start the Giro d'Italia next Friday after undergoing surgery to remove the plate and screws on his collarbone.

The Movistar rider was released from hospital on Friday after minor surgery, necessary because the metal plate had started showing through the skin.

The plate had initially been inserted to fix Dowsett's collarbone, which he broke in January 2015 - forcing a postponement of his Hour Record attempt.

“The metal plate that was inserted to fix my broken collarbone started to show through the skin,” Dowsett said. “Because of the risk of infection, this had to be removed as soon as possible. They cut me open, took out the plate and six screws and stitched me up.”

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Dowsett was on the 11-rider shortlist to ride the Giro d'Italia, which starts with a short time trial in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, on Friday, May 6.

Carlos Betancur was brought into the shortlist earlier this week after strong performances in support of Giro leader Alejandro Valverde in the Ardennes Classics.

The Mirror reported earlier in the week that Dowsett's surgery was postponed because of the junior doctors' strike. Because of his haemophilia, the paper reports, Dowsett cannot opt for private treatment as private hospitals and insurers are reluctant to treat him.