October 31, 2006 – Charles Dionne’s leg operation last Thursday went well according to Dionne’s agent, Érik de Pokomandy, as reported by Radio Canada. Dionne, 26, who signed with Saunier Duval-Prodir, his first ProTour team, last year, has since been plagued with a mysterious problem in his left leg.

Doctors finally diagnosed it as an external iliac endofibrosis, a rare disease mainly affecting highly-trained cyclists. Doctors have now unclogged the artery and Dionne expects to fly back to Canada in two to three weeks, after his convalescence.

Will the team keep Dionne? “Probably,” says de Pokomandy, “they’re going to see how Charles recovers (before making their decision). A month ago, they told me that if he heals well, they’ll keep him for 2007.” Within another month, most ProTour teams will have full rosters for next year.

Let’s all wish Dionne a speedy and full recovery!