A major women’s cycling race in Italy descended into chaos after a sickening high-speed crash left riders strewn across the road, with one competitor dramatically hurled over a roadside barrier in scenes that stunned viewers.
Belgian star Lotte Kopecky ultimately claimed victory in the women’s Milan–San Remo, narrowly beating Switzerland’s Noemi Rüegg and Italy’s Eleonora Gasparrini in a tense sprint finish involving a small lead group of five.
But the thrilling finale was overshadowed by a horrifying earlier incident that left spectators and commentators shaken.
Several riders were caught up in a tangled pile-up during the race, which stretched 156km from Genoa to San Remo.
In the most alarming moment, Italy’s Debora Silvestri was sent flying over a guardrail as she desperately tried to avoid the chaos unfolding in front of her.
Gasps were heard on the broadcast as the severity of the crash became clear.
“This is absolutely terrible, what a horrible sight to see,” a commentator said during live coverage.
Silvestri’s team, Laboral Kutxa, later confirmed that the rider was conscious when she was transported to hospital, offering a measure of relief after the shocking scenes.
The drama didn’t end there.
In the men’s edition of the race, widely regarded as one of cycling’s most gruelling one-day events at nearly 300km, Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar endured a scare of his own.
The two-time Tour de France winner hit the deck roughly 30km from the finish, emerging bloodied and battered in what could have ended his race.
Remarkably, he managed to remount and fight his way back into contention.
Pogačar went on to snatch victory in a dramatic dash to the line, edging out Britain’s Tom Pidcock in a stunning turnaround.
Reflecting on the crash, he admitted just how close he came to disaster.
“When I crashed, for a second I thought it’s all over,” he said. “To crash just before the most important part of the race is not ideal.”
He added that quick thinking, and crucially the support of his teammates, made all the difference.
“Luckily I was quickly back on the bike and there wasn’t too much damage. Then I saw my team, they gave everything to bring me back, and that gave me hope.”
Despite the crashes and chaos, both races delivered high drama, but it was the terrifying incident involving Silvestri that left the biggest mark on a day few will forget in a hurry.
