Five British athletes are recovering after a sports cycle accident in Belgium. The five riders were all young women, aged between 18 and 20. Three of the cyclists were part of the British Cycling Olympic programme for the 2012 London games.

Hannah Mayho, Lucy Martin, Katie Colclough, Emma Trott and Sarah Reynolds were injured after a car collided with their cycle party during a morning training session. The cycle accident occurred on the road between Brakel and Oudenaarde.

Overseas Cycle Accident Causes ‘Long Term Damage’

None of the women were fatally wounded, but the impact of the car was forceful enough to inflict serious injuries. The cycle accident resulted in 3 of the women needing hospital treatment.

Hannah Mayho, 18, sustained the worst injuries after being directly hit by the vehicle. The collision broke the arm and left leg of the Bradford teenager. Mayho needed surgery to pin the breakages and is expected to be hospitalised for at least a further week. Trott, Martin and Colclough all sustained at least one minor breakage in addition to bruising and deep cuts. They are being cared for by the cycling team doctor and hospital staff.

Katie Colclough spoke to reporters about the details of the cycle accident: “We were riding on a cycle path and saw a car to our left at a junction. It looked like it would stop and let us cross but it suddenly accelerated into us. In Belgium cyclists on cycle paths have right of way over cars at junctions so it’s normally quite safe.”

No details have emerged about any criminal investigation or lawsuits as a result of the bike accident. Coaches for the national cycling team are working alongside medical staff to help the Olympic hopefuls make a swift recovery. All 5 athletes are expected to make a full recovery, but it could be a long time before the UK’s female cycling team is back to full fitness following their traumatic cycle accident.