Lifeplus-Wahoo’s Kate Richardson is out of the Tour of Britain Girls after being knocked off her bike by a hit-and-run driver this week.
The 21-year-old from Glasgow took to Instagram to share particulars of the surprising incident which left her with a number of nasty accidents.
“Yesterday morning I used to be hit by a automotive from behind while out on a coaching journey leading to a refractured scapula, an extremely bruised and swollen proper hip and lots extra highway rash so as to add to final week’s assortment,” she wrote.
“While racing incidents are by no means good, we all know that sadly they generally include the territory. Even when not at fault we now have no selection however to simply accept them and transfer on. This nevertheless, is extremely exhausting to simply accept. It simply ought to by no means have occurred. There are far too many tales about cyclists being hit by automobiles while out coaching and there may be completely no excusing it.”
“On this case, I used to be on a slender single observe highway, not more than 3m large, on a blind bend and clearly the driving force couldn’t wait 10 extra seconds to overhaul me,” she continued. “He determined to attempt to squeeze his large 4×4 previous me at a excessive velocity, hitting me exhausting and knocking me off my bike.
“Initially, he simply drove on however circled and got here again later to verbally abuse and threaten me earlier than getting again in his automotive and driving off once more. Fortunately one other driver got here throughout the scene fairly shortly and kindly helped me up and drove me house.”
Richardson confirmed to Biking Weekly that she had reported the incident to South Yorkshire Police who are actually wanting into it.
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“This in fact means no Tour of Britain this week and I’m at present unsure about what the remainder of the season holds,” Richardson added. “This can be a lot greater than only a bodily harm, it was extremely scary and I depend myself fortunate that I walked away comparatively unscathed in comparison with what it may have been.
“Mentally although, it is going to take some time to beat. Figuring out that when once more I’ll be lacking a key racing block, while realizing what kind of form I’ve labored so exhausting to be in, is massively disappointing and exhausting to get my head round.
“I’d say that usually I’m good at coping with these kinds of conditions, however with this being my 4th severe crash in beneath a yr, my physique and my thoughts is in want of some relaxation and restoration earlier than eager about returning to competitors.
“The police are coping with the incident, and with witnesses and potential CCTV footage I’m hopeful that some form of justice will prevail.”
The 21-year-old had confirmed herself to be in robust type up to now this season. Richardson gained the ladies’s version of the Lincoln Grand Prix final month. Previous to that, she claimed her first two nationwide titles within the particular person and workforce pursuit on the British Nationwide Observe Championships in February.
Richardson shouldn’t be the primary skilled to be hit off their bike by a driver this yr. Again in April Bora-Hansgrohe’s Lennard Kämna was left in intensive care after being struck by a automotive driver throughout a coaching journey in Tenerife.
Kämna spent a month in hospital whereas he recovered.
Biking Weekly has approached South Yorkshire Police for remark in relation to this story.
