HUTTWIL, Switzerland, June 14, 2011 (AFP) – Italian Christiano Salerno will be sidelined for several weeks after breaking his collarbone following a crash on the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his Liquigas team said Tuesday.

Salerno crashed Monday on the descent of the Grosse Scheidegg, the second of two climbs on a 107km stage whose summit sits 10km above Grindelwald in the shadow of the Eiger and Jungfrau mountains.

He was taken to hospital in nearby Interlaken for scans. Liquigas confirmed Tuesday morning that Salerno had broken his collarbone and would be returning to Brescia, Italy for an operation that should keep him out for several weeks.

Consolation for Liquigas came in the shape of a stage win for Slovakian Peter Sagan.

The nine-stage event ends Sunday with a 32.1km time trial in Schaffhouse.