Debora Silvestri was rushed to hospital after a crash during the women’s Milano-Sanremo race on Saturday, with the cyclist catapulted over a guard rail on the Cipressa descentWill Schofield Senior Sports Reporter and Mark Wakefield Sport Central Audience Writer
20:27, 21 Mar 2026Updated 20:35, 21 Mar 2026
Cyclist Debora Silvestri was rushed to hospital after a crash(Image: Eurosport)
Cyclist Debora Silvestri was taken to hospital on Saturday afternoon following a crash during the women’s edition of Milano-Sanremo.
Silvestri was trailing Polish champion Kasia Niewiadoma down the descent of the Cipressa – the second-to-last climb of the renowned race when the former Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift competitor came off on a bend.
Several riders came off their bikes, including Silvestri who collided with a fallen rider and was propelled over the barrier, landing on a slip road several metres from the road. And supporters were swift to express their concerns on social media, reports the Daily Star.
“Oh no, what a horrible crash. I hope everyone will be okay,” one fan stated. While a second added: “That Laboral riders crash was absolutely horrifying, I hope she is as okay as she can be!”
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“A reminder how inherently dangerous road racing can be. Hoping they’re all OK,” a third said. As a fourth stated: “She was launched, one of the most terrible crashes I have witnessed. It seemed that she was able to move her leg though.”
And another said: “That was brutal to witness, she didn’t move. Hope they’re all ok.”
Silvestri’s team have now provided fans with an update via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Debora Silvestri has suffered a fall on the Cipressa descent,” the update read. “She is conscious and on her way to the hospital to receive care.
Debora Silvestri’s team have provided an update(Image: Eurosport)
“We will provide more information on her condition in the coming hours.”
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The race was won by Belgian star Lotte Kopecky, who escaped with a group over the Poggio and won the sprint finish.
However, the drama was only just starting as the men’s race produced an edition for the ages. Tadej Pogacar joked he’d rather win Sanremo than a fifth Tours de France.
With 35km remaining, the Slovenian superstar crashed and the race appeared to have passed him by. Yet, following a relentless pursuit, he rejoined the leaders on the Cipressa and instantly responded, taking Matieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock with him.
The trio arrived at the base of the Poggio with a 10-second advantage – Pogacar repeatedly surged up the short, gradual ascent, managing to drop Van der Poel.
Nevertheless, Pidcock stayed on his bike and was only narrowly defeated in a sprint on the Via Roma, with the chasing group finishing four seconds adrift.