Mayho, Lucy Martin, Katie Colclough, Emma Trott and Sarah Reynolds, who formed the Olympic Academy squad, were involved in the accident which happened between the towns of Brakel and Oudenaarde yesterday morning.

Mayho, who came into direct contact with the vehicle, broke both her legs, her right arm and wrist and has undergone surgery, the BCF said.

Mayho who started cycling in 2006 after being spotted when a British Cycling talent team came to her school, Halifax Grammar, has a string of national track, circuit and road titles to her name at junior level.

In 2008 she was also the European junior individual pursuit champion and a member of the successful GB junior pursuit team also.

Colclough suffered concussion and was staying in hospital overnight, Martin cracked a vertebra and has been advised to rest over the coming weeks, Trott suffered a broken collarbone and a black eye and Reynolds hurt her hand and split her chin.

A statement on the British Cycling website said: "All families have been informed and the priority now is to bring the athletes back to the UK as soon as possible."

The Olympic and world champion Nicole Cooke is a regular member of the training group who have been riding in British colours this year to support her but missed this ride because she was at her base in Switzerland.

Olympic Academy Programme coach Simon Cope also normally rides with the team but on this occasion was working in his office to make final preparations for the Tour l'Aude, which they were due to take part in.

Cope said: "Basically the whole academy squad has been wiped out by a car.

"They were descending a hill between Oudenaarde and Brakel when it pulled out from the left."

In July 2005 six member of the Australian women's team were hit by a car while training in Germany and Amy Gillett lost her life.

"The good thing in this instance is that they're all alive," said Cope.

"If it happened in England you wouldn't be surprised.

"You don't expect that to happen here in Belgium, though.

"Everyone's so bike friendly and everywhere is geared up for bike riding and bike racing."