Museeuw's condition improves

Museeuw does not require further surgery

Top Belgian cyclist Johan Museeuw is expected to leave intensive care on Thursday following a serious motorcycle accident at the weekend.

The Olympic gold medal hope suffered serious injuries in the accident near his home in Ostend on Sunday and was taken to Ghent University Hospital.

It is still too early to say whether Museeuw will make a full recovery or has suffered permanent damage.

"He is doing better than yesterday. His neurological condition is improving and at the moment he will be able to leave the intensive care unit within a couple of hours," a spokeswoman said.

Unscathed

Museeuw, the winner of this year's Paris to Roubaix classic, was riding his Harley-Davidson with his wife and son when the accident happened.

He was rushed to hospital by helicopter with a broken collar-bone and fractured knee as well as concussion. His wife and son emerged unscathed from the crash.

Museeuw had a successful operation on his left leg but there had been concern about his head injuries.

The Belgian had made an Olympic gold medal in Sydney in September his main aim of the year, but the crash rules him out of that and threatens to end his career.