A champion Scots cyclist has been forced to pull out of the Tour of Britain after she said she was struck by a 4x4 and verbally abused by the driver. 

Kate Richardson, a road and track cyclist from Glasgow, said she was hit at "high speed" by a car while training, suffering a broken collarbone after it had just healed following an injury earlier this year. 

The 21-year-old said she also has severe bruising across her right hip and "road rash" - a term used for friction wounds caused when cyclists crash and skid on a road. 

In a social media post, Richardson said the crash was "incredibly hard to accept" and "just should have never happened". 

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She wrote on Instagram: "I was on a narrow single track road, no more than three metres wide, on a blind bend and clearly the driver couldn't wait ten more seconds to overtake me. 

"He decided to try and squeeze his huge 4x4 past me at a high speed, hitting me hard and knocking me off my bike. 

"Initially, he just drove on but turned around and came back later to verbally abuse and threaten me before getting back in his car and driving off again." 

The Herald: Kate Richardson celebrates winning the Women’s individual pursuit final during day two of the National Track ChampionshipsKate Richardson celebrates winning the Women’s individual pursuit final during day two of the National Track Championships (Image: PA)

Richardson said another driver came across her and helped her up and gave her a lift home. 

However, due to the crash, she will miss this year's Tour of Britain, which is taking place from 6 to 9 June. 

"This is a lot more than just a physical injury, it was incredibly scary and I count myself lucky that I walked away relatively unscathed compared to what it could have been," Richardson wrote. 

“Mentally though, it will take a while to overcome,” she added. “Knowing that once again I’ll be missing a key racing block, whilst knowing what sort of shape I’ve worked so hard to be in, is hugely disappointing and hard to get my head around.” 

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After winning the recent Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, Richardson was looking ahead to this week's Tour of Britain. 

She has enjoyed a decorated early career, including national and junior European championships. 

In response, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey said: "Utterly dreadful news, hoping Kate makes a speedy recovery & after the physical injuries have healed she can manage the psychological impact." 

Police were made aware of the incident, which is said to have happened in Yorkshire.