Cat Ferguson injury setback - Recovery to be more complex as British rider ruled out of Tour de France Femmes
CyclingTuesday, 23 June 2026 at 21:30
Cat Ferguson’s recovery after her crash on stage 1 of the recent Giro d’Italia Women has been guided by medical caution and has proved more complex than first expected. The British Movistar Team rider initially underwent several tests to rule out a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and assess the extent of multiple contusions caused by the incident.
After being discharged and returning home, Ferguson began a recovery process that, in the first weeks, seemed to progress steadily without major complications. However, improvement fell short as the days passed, prompting the medical team to expand diagnostic studies to pinpoint the source of persistent discomfort.
In that context, new tests delivered a more precise and decisive diagnosis: two fractures in the ankle, an injury that explained her stalled clinical progress and will force a reaassessment of her schedule in the short term.
The news is a significant setback for the young British rider, who was enjoying an outstanding second season with Movistar Team.
Ferguson had taken important wins
Up to the crash, Ferguson had taken three important wins: Trofeo Llucmajor at the Challenge Mallorca, a stage at the Setmana Ciclista Comunitat Valenciana, and the Navarra Women’s Elite Classic, confirming her rise within the team and the international peloton.
The priority now is recovery without rushing timelines. Cat Ferguson will remain out of competition for several weeks to ensure proper fracture healing and full rehabilitation of the affected area.
The Briton is ruled out of the upcoming National Championships and also the Tour de France, two targets on her 2026 calendar where she had strong chances to deliver for Movistar. An apparent initial misdiagnosis now disrupts the most ambitious goals of her year.
🔵 ACTUALIZACIÓN | Cat Ferguson
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) June 23, 2026
Tras la caída sufrida en la primera etapa del pasado Giro d'Italia Women, fue sometida inicialmente a diversas pruebas para evaluar un posible traumatismo craneoencefálico (TCE) y múltiples contusiones.
Tras su llegada a casa y durante las tres… pic.twitter.com/RBuZItJbbJ
Cat Ferguson’s results in 2026
| Date | Race | Result |
| 30.05–07.06 | Giro d’Italia Women | DNF |
| 30.05 | Stage 1 - Cesenatico › Ravenna | DNF |
| 13.05 | Navarra Women’s Elite Classic | 1 |
| 12.04 | Paris-Roubaix Femmes | DNF |
| 05.04 | Ronde van Vlaanderen WE | 19 |
| 01.04 | Dwars door Vlaanderen WE | 6 |
| 29.03 | In Flanders Fields – Wevelgem | 21 |
| 21.03 | Milano-Sanremo Donne | 12 |
| 15.03 | Trofeo Alfredo Binda | 22 |
| 28.02 | Omloop Nieuwsblad WE | 4 |
| 12–15.02 | Setmana Ciclista Comunitat Valenciana | GC 29th |
| 15.02 | Stage 4 - Sagunt › Valencia | 7 |
| 13.02 | Stage 2 - Vila-Real › Vila-Real | 1 |
| 12.02 | Stage 1 - Gandia › Gandia | 56 |
| 08.02 | Vuelta CV Féminas | 3 |
| 26.01 | Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx | 11 |
| 25.01 | Trofeo Llucmajor | 1 |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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