The operation will mean that "the two times world junior pursuit champion and member of Australias 1995 gold medal-winning senior teams pursuit line-up may not be able to resume training for the Olympics for up to four days. And for McGee the setback - together with the time lost through a series of other recent injuries - means he will have missed out on five-and-a-half weeks of training in the past nine weeks."
Guinness notes that "McGee was not the only notable scratching from the national track titles which started in Perth yesterday. Another was Victorias 1993 world sprint champion, Gary Neiwand, who was preparing for a thrilling battle against WAs current world champion Darryn Hill. Neiwand, who will return to Adelaide, where he now lives, owes his withdrawal to a pulled hamstring while stretching on Monday night. According to Charlie Walsh, McGees injury is more serious and flared up during the teams recent pre-season high altitude training tour in Mexico."
Walsh said "He is very disappointed after the endeavour he showed to come back at Mexico. He still tried to ride with us. But one day the infection was so bad that he had to stop after 150 kms. The swelling of the infection go to the size of a golf ball."