Bernhard Eisel has surgery to relieve bleeding on the brain

Bernhard Eisel, a key team-mate of Briton Mark Cavendish, has undergone surgery to relieve bleeding on the brain.

Team Dimension Data said Eisel’s subdural haematoma was a consequence of his crash on stage five of Tirreno-Adriatico last month, when the 37-year-old Austrian suffered a fractured wrist.

An initial CAT scan was clear, but Eisel experienced symptoms last week and a MRI scan was ordered, revealing the bleeding between the skull and the brain.

Team Dimension Data described the surgery at a clinic in Klagenfurt, Austria as “successful”, suggesting he will be able to return to a turbo trainer in two weeks and riding on the road in four weeks.

Eisel hinted the traumatic injury had led him to consider his future.

“I still enjoy riding my bike but this was a massive thing that happened to my body,” he said.

“If you have an operation on your brain it certainly makes you think twice about things but at the moment I will just follow the recommendations of our team doctors.”

Cavendish and Eisel have been team-mates for many years, with Team Colombia, Team Sky and Team Dimension Data. Cavendish is seeking to add to his 30 Tour de France stage wins in July.