Slovenian rider Urska Žigart broke her jaw in a heavy crash at the start of the final kilometre of stage two of the Tour de Suisse Femmes in Locarno on Friday morning AEST.
Žigart lost control riding at high speed over a speed bump and crashed hard on the ground, rolling and sliding a number of metres before coming to a halt on the tarmac.
Several other riders then crashed as they tried to avoid Žigart, 29, as she lay motionless on the road.
Žigart’s team confirmed she had been taken to hospital.
“After undergoing several medical assessments, Urska has been diagnosed with a fractured jaw. Fortunately, no other injuries were detected during the examinations,” they added.
“The team’s medical staff are currently evaluating the next steps required to ensure Urska receives the best possible treatment and recovery process. At this stage, our primary focus is on her health and wellbeing.”
Žigart’s partner is fellow cyclist Tadej Pogačar, a four-time Tour de France winner, who was just about to start the day’s stage at the same location in the men’s Tour de Suisse.
Pogačar managed to defend his lead, going through the motions on the podium before racing to the hospital to be with Žigart.
“Unfortunately, just before the start, he read the bad news,” Pogačar’s team manager, Mauro Gianetti, said.
“I went to see Urska before the start, so I reassured him that, fortunately, it’s nothing serious, even though it was a big crash, because it was at high speed of more than 50 kilometres per hour.
“We can reassure him, but you can imagine that it’s not easy for him. He didn’t seem to be in any mood to race.”
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