Gladys Verhulst-Wild has been forced to abandon the 2026 Tour of Britain Women after suffering a fractured collarbone in a crash during Wednesday’s opening stage.
Her team confirmed the diagnosis after the 158.9-kilometre Stage 1 around Cockermouth, bringing Verhulst-Wild’s race to an immediate end before Thursday’s second stage from Clitheroe to Blackpool.
The opening day had already presented a difficult combination of exposed roads, cobbles and almost 2,000 metres of climbing, as outlined in ProCyclingUK’s Tour of Britain Women 2026 route guide.
A medical update from the team confirmed:
“Following her crash in the opening stage of the Tour of Britain Women, Gladys Verhulst-Wild has been diagnosed with a fractured collarbone.
“Unfortunately, the consequences of the crash have forced her to abandon the race.
“Gladys will now focus on her recovery under the guidance of our medical team. A return to training and racing will be planned according to her progress in the coming weeks.”
No timetable has yet been given for Verhulst-Wild’s return to competition.
Verhulst-Wild will not start Stage 2
The withdrawal means Verhulst-Wild will not be on the start line for Stage 2 on Thursday 20 August, when the race heads 110.5 kilometres from Clitheroe to Blackpool.
That stage is expected to provide one of the clearest sprint opportunities of the five-day race, with the most difficult climbing coming early before a much flatter run towards the Fylde coast.
The full Tour of Britain Women 2026 start list will now be one rider shorter as the race moves into its second day.
Verhulst-Wild’s absence also removes an experienced attacking rider before a sequence of stages that gradually turns towards the general classification battle, most notably the Great Orme finish on Stage 3.
Recovery will determine her return to racing
The team have not attempted to put a date on Verhulst-Wild’s return.
Instead, she will remain under the guidance of the medical staff, with a return to training and eventually competition planned according to how the collarbone heals over the coming weeks.
That means any potential late-season targets will depend entirely on her recovery rather than an immediate attempt to establish a comeback date.
The Tour of Britain Women continues through Lancashire, North Wales, Mid Wales and Warwickshire before Sunday’s finale in Royal Leamington Spa. The Tour of Britain Women 2026 route guide has the full stage-by-stage breakdown of the remaining race.
