• Italian tumbles over guardrail down Cipressa climb

• Tadej Pogacar pips Tom Pidcock in men’s race despite fall

The Italian Debora Silvestri was taken to a hospital after a horrific-looking crash during the women’s Milano-Sanremo one-day classic, while Tadej Pogacar was bloodied and bruised by his own fall before getting back on his bike and winning the men’s race.

Several cyclists were caught up in the incident in the women’s race, with Silvestri tumbling over a guardrail as riders tried to avoid the pileup. Silvestri’s team, Laboral Kutxa, said the 27-year-old was in a stable condition. The incident happened on the descent of the famous Cipressa climb, less than 20km (12 miles) from the end of the 156km route.

• Teenage French sensation Paul Seixas finishes second

• Swiss wins women’s race in a thrilling finish

Tadej Pogacar won a record fourth Strade Bianche title as he made a triumphant start to his 2026 season, with the teenage French sensation Paul Seixas second. The world champion made a typically devastating long-range break around 80km from the finish, after which it was a procession to the line in Siena for his third win in a row.

In doing so, the four-time Tour de France winner proved once again that his appetite to triumph – and dominantly – has not diminished despite his myriad successes. One of the 27-year-old Slovenian’s main targets for this season comes in two weeks’ time at the Milan-San Remo one-day classic, one of only two of the five Monument races he is yet to win.

• Dutch rider triumphs on debut in Belgian spring classic

• Demi Vollering beats Niewiadoma to win women’s race

Mathieu van der Poel broke away 16km from the finish line and soloed to victory at the season-opening cobbled classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday.

The former road race world champion entered the classic on the back of a record eighth cyclo-cross world title where he was unbeaten all winter. The 31-year-old Alpecin rider finished in 4hr 53min 55sec, more than 20 seconds ahead of fellow Dutchman Tim van Dijke and the Belgian Florian Vermeersch.