The 31-year-old Swiss rider underwent surgery in Basle after suffering the injury in a crash at the Tour of Flanders and, while still in pain, plans to resume training as early as next week.

"I'm happy that the surgery went so well, but I'm still in pain," he said at a press conference in Switzerland. "I'm going to rest a couple of days, maybe even a week, and then resume training.

"I had two major goals this season: the classics and the Olympics.

"The spring campaign is unfortunately over for me now. Because I had planned a break after the classics anyway, my build-up towards London will not change.

'I'll be back'

"The plan is that I return to competition in May, possibly the Bayern Rundfahrt [Tour of Bavaria, from May 23-27], as I did last year."

Cancellara was taken away in an ambulance after Sunday's crash in the feed zone 60 kilometres from the finish in Belgium.

Looking back at the incident two days on, he said: "A crash is part of cycling, and in a way it's also part of life. I have been working really hard in the last four months to be in the best shape possible for the big races, and I'm confident that I would have performed well.

"However, I'm glad I only broke my collarbone and that I'm okay for the rest. I'll be back."