Picnic PostNL rider fractures skull after crashing into a child on a city bike: 'Universe keeps dealing me blows'
CyclingThursday, 02 July 2026 at 11:28
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Follow us on GoogleMara Roldan suffered a serious head injury after colliding with a child on a city bike during a training session. The 22-year-old Canadian, who has been on the Picnic PostNL team since last year, posted a somber message on Instagram on Thursday morning.
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Since joining the Dutch team, Roldan has proven herself to be a great talent. Last year, she finished tenth in the Amstel Gold Race and won a stage in the Tour of Britain Women. However, she also broke her thigh bone during that race, which meant she didn’t return to competition until February 2026.
Just as Roldan was starting to feel a little better again in the Giro d'Italia Women, she took a hard fall during the third stage. “I was catching up after a flat tire and crashed into the back of a caravan at 60 kilometers per hour,” she said. She was in too much pain to continue the next day.
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Roldan suffers serious injury after a crash during practice
As if those two crashes weren't enough, another setback occurred during a practice session. Roldan writes in his reports: "Sometimes it feels like the universe keeps dealing me blows," referring to a hard crash.
"Last week, I was involved in a head-on collision on the bike path. A child riding a city bike was going the wrong way and apparently lost control. I was knocked to the ground and suffered a skull fracture."
Picnic PostNL will be without Roldan for another long period
"I don't know what to say; this season feels like a series of heartbreaks and setbacks. For over a year now, I've been constantly prevented from doing what I love most. To be honest, that hurts more than the physical injuries," said Roldan.
In a few harrowing photos, we see Canades wearing a neck brace and on crutches, knowing that she is facing another long rehabilitation. “I don’t know yet what the recovery will look like or what this means for the rest of my season. For now, I’m taking it week by week.”
Picnic PostNL and her family are providing much-needed support, both physically and mentally. “My parents are with me, and I’m surrounded by a fantastic team and medical staff. I’ve been staying away from screens because of my concussion symptoms, but all the messages mean a lot to me.”
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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