Just a week ago at the Milano Sanremo Women, she left us breathless when that terrible crash down the Cipressa descent made us fear the worst, but Debora Silvestri never lost her smile. When we call her, she has already been discharged from the hospital and is making her way across northern Italy from Sanremo to her home in Veneto, a sort of contemporary Odyssey lasting over 5 hours that almost makes her hospital stay seem like a walk in the park. She smiles and jokes when thinking back on her hospital stay, those seemingly endless days when she soon began wandering the ward to fight off boredom and in no time became the most pampered patient by doctors and nurses. With her usual optimism, the Laboral Kutxa athlete transformed the mishap into an unusual Sanremo stay with a beautiful view, the food could use some work, but with the promise never to repeat it again.

We have to admit, when we saw the TV images we were frightened, but already by evening Debora herself had given us a sigh of relief. The diagnosis was a hairline fracture to the scapula and fractures to 5 ribs, it could have been much worse. She remembers nothing of that accident and tried to reconstruct it through the images, but that terrible curve was completely blocked out. «I don't remember anything at all, I was racing and then I woke up in the emergency room. They told me that after the crash I was conscious and answering questions, but I blocked everything out because of the trauma I suffered. I tried to reconstruct what happened by watching the video and immediately thought it could have gone much worse. I was having trouble breathing and they put me on oxygen. The biggest problem was the lung contusion, there was fluid inside and an air pocket and there was a risk it could get worse, but within two days thanks to antibiotics they sorted out the situation. Until two days ago I was still having a bit of trouble breathing, I was sleeping sitting up, but now I feel better and better, I'm breathing well and only have minor rib pain» the Venetian athlete told tuttobiciweb. She was immediately informed of the situation and never failed to stay calm. When she woke up in the hospital, her mother Patrizia and father Stefano were waiting for her, two special fans who were ready to cheer her on along the route and found themselves rushing to the hospital instead. Debora was never left alone, neither by her family nor by her team, which was always in contact with her.

After the first two really complicated days, Debora began to improve visibly. Thanks to antibiotics, the lung problem was contained, doctors advised caution and step by step the twenty-seven-year-old Venetian began to get back on her feet and think about her recovery. The entire cycling world rallied around her, showing her a closeness she had never seen before. Many began to learn her story and became trackside fans reminding her not to give up. «I didn't expect such an outpouring of affection, I was amazed by the number of people who wrote to me expressing their concern. Many, seeing the images, were worried and wrote beautiful words about me – Debora said – it was talked about a lot on the web, there were also keyboard warriors who wrote very ugly and sexist things, but I never worried about them because I saw once again the beauty of the cycling world. Many people got closer to this sport and discovered the value of fair play. That massive group crash showed who the true fans are and generated a beautiful wave of affection that I will hardly forget»

Debora is naturally optimistic, despite all the bad luck she has suffered during her career, she has never lost her smile and on this occasion too she managed to see things from another perspective. Crashes are part of cycling, certainly, seeing the flight she took, things could have gone much worse, but there is some regret. Her 2026 was going really well, excellent results, but above all the feeling of being able to compete with the big names. «I'm a bit sorry because I had started very well, these days I should have been heading to Teide, but unfortunately things went differently. Every day I feel myself improving, but the doctors have already told me I need to be patient. I'll certainly rest a bit, I'll rely on the care of specialized centers in my area, but I want to get back on the trainer as soon as possible. I don't have fractures to my legs and arms so there shouldn't be any problems. In the past I've raced a Giro with cracked ribs, I'm used to it by now. The season is still very long, there's the Giro, the Tour and so many other races. I feel motivated and I like to look ahead. There are still so many objectives waiting for me» adds the Venetian athlete who is ready to face her recovery. She can't wait to get back in the saddle, to pedal and to dream. The season is still long and she promises us she will do everything to come back stronger than before. By her side she has a special fan club made up of relatives, friends and teammates, but in these days we have seen that even the readers of tuttobiciweb have never left her alone, expressing their support and asking for continuous updates. It is to them that Debora Silvestri wanted to leave a message, extracting from us the promise to deliver it and also a smile: «I thank everyone for the support, you really moved me, I hope to see you soon on the roads. I send you a big hug, but not too tight because my ribs still hurt a bit»