Tour de France champion Alberto Contador lost time on the leaders and suffered a painful knock to his leg when he crashed towards the end of the first stage of Paris-Nice on Monday.
An increase in the numbers of people taking part in organised cycling events appears to be continuing unabated this year.
According to bike sellers Evans Cycles, entries for its Ride It! Series are up 150 per cent from around this time last year and are growing.
The figure seems be boosted by Evans' King of the Downs event, entries for which have hit 500 already.
Evans sees entries for events up 150 per cent