Milano-Sanremo Women: Major Crash on Cipressa Descent Impacts Race

A mass crash on the descent of the Cipressa brought down multiple riders during Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo Women, disrupting the race as it approached its critical final kilometers. The incident, occurring shortly after the summit of the climb, involved several prominent contenders and prompted a secondary collision as riders following were unable to avoid the initial pile-up.

Among those confirmed to have been involved in the crash are Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Kim Le Court-Pienaar, both of whom had been positioned near the front of the race during the ascent of the Cipressa, according to reports from Cyclingnews.

The severity of the crash was underscored by reports of riders falling off the road and down the embankment alongside the course. Debora Silvestri of Laboral Kutxa was taken to hospital following the incident, The Guardian reported. Laboral Kutxa confirmed that Silvestri was conscious, according to IDLprocycling.com, offering a measure of relief amidst the chaos.

The Cipressa descent is known for its technical challenges and often serves as a launchpad for decisive attacks in the final stages of Milan-Sanremo. This year, however, the descent resulted in widespread disruption, forcing riders to regroup and reassess their strategies with the Poggio, the final climb, still to come. The crash effectively neutralized the advantage gained during the climb, leaving the outcome of the race uncertain.

The full extent of injuries sustained by the riders involved remains unclear at this time. Race officials have not yet released a comprehensive list of those affected or the nature of their injuries. The incident has prompted concern throughout the peloton, with teams scrambling to assess the condition of their riders and adjust their race plans accordingly.