Debora Silvestri escapes worst case after horror crash in Sanremo Women

The race had already entered its decisive phase when it went wrong. With just under 20 kilometers to go, the pace lifted on the technical downhill. Kasia Niewiadoma, pushing hard in pursuit, lost control in a right hand corner and hit the barriers at speed. Riders behind had little time to react.

Silvestri was one of them. Coming into the bend moments later, she was confronted with riders already down on the road. There was no way through. She crashed heavily and ended up several meters further along the roadside, briefly lying still. Broadcast images cut away quickly, but the severity of the fall was immediately clear.

Her team moved fast to calm concerns. Laboral Kutxa confirmed that the 27-year-old was conscious when she was taken to hospital, a first positive signal after what had looked like a worst case scenario.

Later that evening, Silvestri shared her own update on Instagram. “I want to thank everyone for the many messages. It was certainly not the ending I had imagined. I actually feel quite good. I have five broken ribs and a small fracture in my shoulder, but it could have been worse. Now it is time to recover, but I will be back.”

Niewiadoma, who triggered the incident, avoided serious injury. Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto reported cuts and abrasions but no fractures. “She has been examined by our team doctor. She has several cuts and abrasions. We will continue to monitor her in the coming days.” The Polish rider later admitted she may have taken too many risks in the descent.

The crash inevitably shaped the final, but it did not change the outcome at the front of the race. Lotte Kopecky proved the strongest on the Via Roma, timing her sprint to perfection to claim victory in Sanremo Women.