Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri was taken to a hospital after a terrifying crash during the women’s Milan-San Remo one-day classic on Saturday, March 21.
The shocking incident happened towards the end of the race when several riders were involved in a pile-up and left on the ground.
In her efforts to avoid the crash, Silvestri tumbled over a roadside barrier and landed headfirst on the other side.
The Italian landed on a lower section of the road after falling several metres, and she lay stricken on the floor.
Her team, Laboral Kutxa, released a statement shortly afterwards to provide an update on her condition.
They said: “Debora Silvestri has suffered a fall on the Cipressa descent.
“She is conscious and on her way to the hospital to receive care.”
They later added: “She will remain hospitalised for the next few hours under medical supervision, and further tests will be conducted to assess the extent of the injuries.”
Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky went on to win the 156km race following the chaotic scenes, narrowly edging out Switzerland’s Noemi Ruegg in a sprint for the line.
However, despite her victory, the race was overshadowed by the incident and Kopecky reflected this with her comments as she said: “I hope everyone is okay.”
See video below.
🇮🇹 #Italy. Terrifying crash at the Milan–San Remo bike race. On the turn, a massive pile-up occurred, and one of the athletes plummeted from a great height, flying over the barrier.
It’s happens many times on sharp turns and if one falls then many other cyclists falls too.. pic.twitter.com/mfNPmmCjFp
— Pisklauren (@pisklauren) March 21, 2026
We slowed it down so you can see how bad that was ⚠️
In a shocking moment that unfolded during Saturday’s women’s Milan-San Remo, Italian rider Debora Silvestri was rushed to hospital after a terrifying crash that left fans holding their breath.
The chaos erupted on the fast,… pic.twitter.com/owQ7AmwLOI
— USA NEWS 🇺🇸 (@usanewshq) March 21, 2026
