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The Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri was taken to a hospital after a horrific-looking crash during the Milano-Sanremo one-day classic on Saturday. Several cyclists were caught up in the incident, with Silvestri tumbling over a guardrail as riders tried to avoid the pileup.
Silvestri’s team, Laboral Kutxa, said the 27-year-old was conscious as she was transported and that it would give an update on her condition later. The incident happened on the descent of the famous Cipressa climb, less than 20km (12 miles) from the end of the 156km route.
Two of the favourites for the race, Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney and Kim Le Court Pienaar, were also involved in the crash. Niewiadoma Phinney was unable to continue, while Le Court Pienaar remounted but finished 99th.
Lotte Kopecky claimed victory, edging out Noemi Rüegg and Eleonora Gasparrini in a sprint involving five riders.
Tadej Pogacar won the men’s race to claim a long-sought victory in the cycling season’s opening “Monument” race.
Pogacar, of UAE Team Emirates XRG, pipped Britain’s Tom Pidcock in a thrilling finish despite crashing a few kilometres before the key Cipressa climb.
The Slovenian, who also won Strade Bianche earlier this month, became the first man since Giuseppe Saronni in 1983 to win Milano-Sanremo as world champion. The 27-year-old has now won four of road cycling’s five Monuments, with only Paris-Roubaix remaining for the four-time Tour de France winner.
Pogacar crossed the line with Pidcock right on his wheel after a brilliant battle between the pair from the final Poggio di San Remo climb, with Wout Van Aert rounding off the podium.
“Not the most beautiful because I’ll be licking the wounds. But I’m just really happy to take the win,” said Pogacar. “You never know after such a long race but I knew one thing, that Tom’s a super fast guy. He looked super good through all the race.”
