Mara Roldan Faces Recovery Setback After Injury at Tour of Britain

Mara Roldan, a promising cyclist with Picnic-PostNL, has encountered a significant setback in her recovery from a severe injury sustained during the Tour of Britain Women in June 2025. Roldan, who had recently celebrated her first WorldTour victory, now faces ongoing health challenges that have once again sidelined her from training.

On the third stage of the Women’s WorldTour event, Roldan was involved in a crash caused by challenging weather conditions, impacting more than a dozen competitors. The incident resulted in a broken femur, necessitating surgical intervention. Just a day prior, the 21-year-old had achieved a career milestone by winning the second stage, showcasing her potential within the sport.

After undergoing surgery, Roldan made commendable progress in her rehabilitation. However, she recently announced on Instagram that she has experienced renewed pain in her hip and nerve compression, which she attributes to introducing running into her off-season training regimen.

“I attempted to run for the first time a few weeks ago,” Roldan shared. “What felt like mild inflammation at first slowly developed into constant jolts of pain in my hip, along with nerve compression and tingling down my leg whenever I walked or tried to cycle for longer periods.”

This development has left Roldan feeling frustrated and confused, as she had begun to regain her fitness and enthusiasm for the upcoming season. “It’s been an incredibly frustrating and confusing process,” she continued. “Before this setback, I finally felt like I was getting somewhere, slowly feeling like myself again, training with goals and excitement for the season ahead.”

After taking three weeks of rest, Roldan’s pain persists, and the underlying cause remains unidentified. She is currently in the Netherlands to undergo further medical testing to determine the next steps in her recovery.

Roldan’s 2025 season had been her most promising to date. After joining the WorldTour team Picnic-PostNL, she signed a contract that extends to the end of 2027, following her transfer from the American continental team Cynisca Cycling. Her impressive performances included a notable 10th place finish at the Amstel Gold Race and a strong showing at the Vuelta a España Feminina in May.

Despite her earlier triumphs, the crash at the Tour of Britain Women abruptly halted her season. “I’m not sure what’s next or how long it’ll take before I can train, let alone race, again,” Roldan expressed, hopeful that the upcoming tests and scans will provide clarity on her situation. “I hope to finally understand what’s going on and how to advance from here.”

As Roldan navigates this challenging phase, her resilience and determination remain evident, leaving fans and fellow athletes eagerly awaiting her return to the sport.