A MOTORIST who knocked world cycling champion Macey Stewart off her bike yesterday stopped to retrieve a broken mirror before driving off.
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Stewart was injured in the hit-run crash in Tarleton Street, East Devonport, about 2pm.
The incident comes just a month after Stewart won gold in the women's junior individual time trial world championships in Spain.
She was heading south outside the Argosy Motel when the vehicle hit her from behind.
The impact threw Stewart to the ground and knocked the motorist's side rear-vision mirror off.
"I took the car's mirror off and I was lying on the road," Stewart said.
"I looked up and I had a fairly large truck coming for me head-on, so I had to scramble off the road as fast as I could.
"The driver of the vehicle who hit me stopped and got out of his car, picked up the mirror, and then drove away.
"It's pretty shocking to think that someone can do that."
A bruised and battered Stewart was taken to hospital by ambulance.
X-rays cleared her of broken bones.
"It (the hit) was pretty hard," she said.
"He would have been going around 60km/h and I was going around 25-30km/h."
Despite the crash, the 18-year-old is off for a training camp in Adelaide at 6am today, minus the bike she intended taking with her.
The incident has not deterred Stewart from continuing to ride.
"I'm a bit sore and that sort of thing, but I plan on getting back on the bike tomorrow," she said.
"It is a bit frightening knowing that this type of thing is happening more and more these days.
"I'm not deterred from riding; I love it too much and have big goals to achieve."
Devonport Senior Sergeant Martin Parker said police believed they had found the vehicle that struck Stewart, but they did not locate the driver.
"The vehicle was unattended when we found it in the East Devonport area," Senior Sergeant Parker said.
The dark coloured sedan was undergoing forensic examinations.
Police called for help in locating the male driver and would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the crash or may know the identity of the driver.
Police would particularly like to speak to the driver of the north-bound truck that had to stop suddenly to avoid Stewart.
Constable Dean Wotherspoon can be contacted on 131 444 or those with any information should call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.