Fabian Cancellara has been forced to take a two-week break from training as a result of a fall during a run last Friday. He was only going 10 km/h when he came off on an icy road near his home and fell into a field.

Since then he has been in considerable pain caused by intramedullary swelling in the right shoulder blade. This makes it unlikely that Cancellara will be able to compete in his first big competition of the season, the Flanders Tour at the beginning of April, in top form.

The Olympic time-trial champion has cut training down to a minimum, and now uses a cycle trainer. Right now, Cancellara is taking every step as it comes: 'There's still enough of the season to go.

I will have plenty of opportunity to catch up on any lost time.' He plans to compete in all three big tours in 2009 and the Tour de Suisse. .