Disaster struck 20 minutes into the race, near Northwich, when an oncoming car hit a cyclist on the outside of Ashton’s group, causing a 12-bicycle crash.

The 23-year-old was one of the worst affected as she was hospitalised with a broken wrist and nasty head wound.

Another cyclist, Fern Cotterill, was also hospitalised following the incident with a fractured elbow and cracked wrist.

• See Saturday’s JEP for the full report

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