Fem van Empel narrowly prevented catastrophe within the breakaway on the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday, nearly lacking out on colliding with a spectator who was crossing the highway whereas the race was ongoing.
The Dutch Visma-Lease a Bike racer took to social media to explain her expertise of the Women’s WorldTour race, which noticed her make the day’s early breakaway transfer with 13 different riders.
In a publish on Instagram, Van Empel mentioned that she was in a position to keep away from the person, who had determined to cross the highway in entrance of the race on a downhill part of the route.
However, she mentioned that others in transfer – together with Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health) – weren’t so fortunate. De Jong was amongst a number of riders unable to keep away from a collision and got here away with a damaged collarbone consequently.
“There was a person crossing the highway on the descent forward of me,” Van Empel wrote in an Instagram story after the race. “Could simply keep away from it, however there have been a few ladies that crashed actually badly.
“Stopped and tried to assist as finest I may. This is a part of biking, however the way in which this occurred I can not perceive. Speedy restoration ladies.”
De Jong replied to Van Empel’s publish, writing “Thank you a lot Fem in your care of me.”
Both riders would find yourself on the DNF record for the race, the sixth spherical of the 2025 Women’s WorldTour.
De Jong seems to have come off the worst within the incident. The 31-year-old, who received the Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx in January, underwent surgical procedure on her damaged collarbone after the race and she or he’s set to be dominated out of racing for a number of weeks consequently.
In the tip, it was Elisa Balsmao (Lidl-Trek) who got here out on high on the race, the Italian triumphing for the third time in her profession. Balsamo beat Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) and Cat Ferguson (Movistar) to the road after an exciting closing which noticed a powerful group of late attackers caught throughout the closing kilometres of the 152km race.
