Chris Froome’s bid to claim a historic treble of successive Grand Tour victories got off to the worst possible start on Friday morning in Jerusalem, when the Briton crashed while scouting out the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Froome came off his bike while preparing along the 9.7km time trial route which he will ride this afternoon. Photos on social media showed the 32-year-old with cuts and grazes on his right side and a bloodied knee.

Team Sky confirmed to Cycling News that Froome is “fine” and “there is no significant damage or cause for concern”.

Froome’s participation in the Giro has proved controversial, with the case regarding his adverse sample during last year’s Veulta a Espana triumph still unresolved. He is allowed to race but many onlookers have suggested he should withdraw from competition until the case is concluded.

On Thursday the four-time Tour de France winner was subjected to a barrage of questions around the case, in which Froome is seeking to explain why he tested twice the prescribed limit for the asthma drug Salbutamol.

However, the Israeli government told The Independent this week that he has been welcomed with open arms by the country, which is hosting the biggest sporting event in its history.

“Chris Froome is very well known in Israel,” said Amir Helevy, the tourism ministry’s director general. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to see him live. I don’t think Israelis are concerned, they just heard that he is going through a legal process. The people here like cycling, the Tour and the Giro, and not in the details of this kind of things.”

The billionaire backer of the Giro’s controversial appearance in Israel, Sylvan Adams, echoed Helevy’s sentiments on Froome’s appearance. “It’s a great benefit. He’s trying to do something that’s historic, to be the holder of three Grand Tours at the same time which has never been done before.