What do you do if you’re sick and you’re tired of sleeping and you’re a cycling fan?  You watch the Milan-Sanremo races, both the women and men.

It was 156 kilometres of intense racing, of “thrills and chills”.  At the end of it all, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky stood victorious.  She’s the middle woman in the picture.

The media wrote about the winner, the exciting moments, about who rode well, and who didn’t.  The usual stuff.

But there was a pause in the minds of a million viewers.  For life had intruded, as recorded by a helicopter camera.  On a descent that curved sharply, the Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma crashed into the barrier.  Other riders immediately smashed into her.  Farther back, the cyclists couldn’t see what had happened on the curve.

Debora Silvestri from Italy crashed into the pileup and was launched … over the guardrail and several metres down to a road below.  She lay motionless … and then the camera cut away to the leaders.

I cried.

I don’t know Debora.  But I know human beings.  Life often hurts.

Debora’s team has issued an update:

Laboral Kutxa said Silvestri is currently stable after being treated by race doctors and emergency services.

She will remain in hospital for the next few hours under medical supervision, with further tests planned to establish the full extent of her injuries.

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May Debora be well again

May we all be well