Italian Cyclist Hospitalized After Milan-Sanremo Crash

Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri was hospitalized Saturday after a severe crash during the women's Milan-Sanremo race, where she plummeted headfirst over a guardrail on the descent of the Cipressa climb. The 27-year-old rider for Laboral Kutxa was part of a multi-rider pileup less than 20 kilometers from the finish line of the 156-kilometer one-day classic, which started in Milan and ended on the Ligurian coast in San Remo, Italy.

The incident unfolded on the steep, technical downhill of the Cipressa, the race's penultimate major obstacle. Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma struck a roadside barrier first, triggering the chain reaction. As riders braked to avoid her, Silvestri collided with a fallen competitor and was thrown over the guardrail, falling several meters onto a slip road below. Television footage showed her landing motionless, drawing immediate concern from race commentators and spectators. Other riders involved included Mauritius' Kim le Court, who remounted and finished 99th, and France's Margaux Vigie, who also fell into the lower area but recovered to complete the race. Niewiadoma was unable to continue.

Medical teams arrived quickly, and Silvestri was transported to...