Angel Madrazo (Caja Rural-RGA) was one of the riders who crashed in the first stage of the Etoile de Bessèges and finished with a bruised left thigh.

Madrazo went down during the stage (although the official medical report stated that it was his teammate Carlos Barbero). "The worst of cycling touched me today as I crashed. Tomorrow I hope to keep up and help my teammates to give war," tweeted the Cantabrian.

Colin Stassi (Roth Skoda), bruises on his shoulder, elbow, hip and left knee, Alo Jakin (Auber93), cervical bruising and nosebleeds, and Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise), elbow and knee abrasions, were all among the victims.

For his part, Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar) finished last in the stage after having arrived more than 14 minutes after stage winner Kris Boeckmans and being given a time penalty of 20 seconds for drafting behind his team car.

The French climber gave the explanation: "First stage of Bessèges and first crash of the season where I hurt my coccyx and sacrum," he wrote on Facebook.