Tokyo Olympics hopeful Elinor Barker hit by car while cycling and slams driver after escaping with ‘minor damage’
CYCLIST Elinor Barker says she is relieved she did not suffer severe injuries after being involved in a hit-and-run crash.
The Rio Olympic gold medallist claims she was knocked over by a car while riding on the road last week.
The 26-year-old from Wales is back in full-time training and fully focused on qualifying a spot at the Tokyo Olympics.
But apart from suffering whiplash, she accepts how lucky she was not to end up in a far worse state on the roadside.
Writing before the social media boycott, Barker said on Instagram: “Feeling pretty relieved to be back to normal training after getting hit by a car while out training last week.
“A driver didn’t stop at the roundabout – and didn’t even stop to see if I was okay – and went straight into me.
“I’m aware that I’m so lucky it wasn’t worse, minor damage done and I had less than a week out of training.
“But also feeling pretty unlucky that after almost five years of training for the Olympics, I have to share the road with somebody who could easily have ended it all because they couldn’t wait five seconds.
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“I’m probably preaching to the choir here, as I guess most of my followers will be cyclists and aware of all of this.
“But seriously, waiting two seconds to check for a cyclist won’t hurt you. Not waiting might hurt somebody else.”
Barker won gold in the team pursuit alongside Laura Kenny, Joanna Rowsell-Shand and Katie Archibald at the 2016 Olympics.