Best news from Milan-Sanremo 2026 comes from Laboral Kutxa: ‘Debora is conscious’

Silvestri was not in the first chasing group after the top of the Cipressa, where Lieke Nooijen had attacked for Visma | Lease a Bike. Kasia Niewiadoma took matters into her own hands in the chase for Canyon//SRAM, but the Pole descended far too aggressively. In a blind right-hand corner, she slammed hard into the barrier.

Strangely enough, Niewiadoma still got off relatively lightly, because the riders were down immediately after the corner, meaning those coming from behind had no chance to see what was ahead. That was why Margaux Vigié of Visma | Lease a Bike went over the guardrail first, although the Frenchwoman remarkably got back up straight away. The same could not be said for Debora Silvestri.

The 27-year-old Italian, riding for Laboral Kutxa, had a small gap to close and came through the turn completely unaware of what had happened. At high speed, she suddenly saw the fallen riders in front of her, and seconds later she was lying several metres further on, motionless on the ground. The television broadcast cut away just as we saw Silvestri move slightly, but the big question remained: how was she doing?

Fortunately, Laboral Kutxa provided an update around the finish. “Debora Silvestri crashed on the descent of the Cipressa. She is conscious and on her way to the hospital to receive treatment. We will provide more information on her condition in the coming hours,” the team said. That was, without question, the best news to come out of Sanremo Women.