“I had an angel looking out for me” - Urska Zigart completes remarkable comeback from horror crash in time for Tour de France Femmes
CyclingFriday, 31 July 2026 at 10:30
Only six weeks after a high-speed crash left her with a fractured jaw and facing the possibility of surgery, Urska Zigart will return to racing at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.
The AG Insurance – Soudal rider crashed heavily after hitting a road hump inside the final kilometre of Stage 2 at the Tour de Suisse Women in Locarno. Zigart lost control at speed and slid along the road before being taken to hospital, where examinations confirmed the jaw fracture but found no other injuries.
There was initially no clear timetable for her recovery. Zigart did not know whether an operation would be required, while her hopes of reaching the biggest race of the women’s season were suddenly in serious doubt.
Instead, the 29-year-old recovered more quickly than expected and will line up in Lausanne on Saturday as part of AG Insurance – Soudal Team’s seven-rider team. “From the crash to the Tour de France!” Zigart wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful to just be here and get to do this bike racing thing all over again in the first place and I will try to enjoy this crazy race.”
“The first days were a bit touch and go”
Zigart thanked her team and the medical staff at Ospedale La Carita di Locarno, where she was treated after the crash, but admitted that the early stages of her recovery were filled with uncertainty.
“The first days were a bit touch and go without having a clear idea of what the comeback path was going to be, but I had an angel looking out for me from above and I was really lucky with my recovery,” she explained.
Zigart avoided surgery and was instead instructed to eat soft food and protect the fracture while it healed. She was able to resume riding sooner than anticipated and later joined her AG Insurance – Soudal teammates at an altitude camp in Tignes.
Zigart's partner Tadej Pogacar just won the 2026 Tour de France
Even there, the effects of the crash remained clear. Team chefs chopped up her meals because of the jaw injury, while Zigart also used LIMFA therapy as part of the healing process.
“I joined the team at a training camp in Tignes and it was only up from there,” she said. “From the chefs chopping up my food, to LIMFA therapy ‘phone calls’ to speed up bone healing and a lot of good vibes in the mountains.”
Her return preserves what had already developed into an excellent 2026 season. Zigart finished sixth overall at La Vuelta Femenina and eighth at the Giro d’Italia Women before the Tour de Suisse crash interrupted her preparations.
Pogacar left “shaken” as crash reignited safety debate
The incident also affected Tadej Pogacar, who was competing in the men’s Tour de Suisse and learned about his partner’s condition before beginning his own stage in Locarno.
UAE Team Emirates – XRG manager Mauro Gianetti said Pogacar had been “shaken” by the news. Gianetti visited Zigart in hospital and updates were relayed to Pogacar through the team car while he defended the race lead.
Zigart’s crash also became the focus of a wider argument over rider safety. CPA Women called for a substantial review of SafeR after she fell on an uneven road feature during a high-speed finale, questioning whether the organisation currently has sufficient authority and resources to identify dangers before riders encounter them.
Six weeks later, Zigart has recovered sufficiently to begin her third major stage race of the season. She will support AG Insurance – Soudal leader Kim Le Court-Pienaar, with Justine Ghekiere another important option once the Tour reaches its harder climbing terrain.
Her return in Lausanne does not erase the effects of the crash or the questions it raised, but it completes a recovery that appeared anything but certain during those first days in hospital.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 7visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I'm a fan and hurts me to have to say - this is just plain stupid of both him and the team! “We may have misunderstood the Tour a bit this year,” Vingegaard said following his withdrawal. “We made me better on the longer climbs. But it could well be that we should have realised I needed to be a bit more explosive and look more closely at the route.''Cyclingsbestfan31-07-2026
- LOL passing men is no significant achievement for elite female cyclists unless they are actually pros
Rafionain-Glas31-07-2026 - Visma's Vuelta gifting was certainly complicated, with JV having almost wiped out Kuss's lead before a public outcry led to Visma's decision to hold back. But Jonas seemed fine with letting almost victory go.Hills3331-07-2026
- I can read, and am responding to another comment or, dumbdevilCrashjames31-07-2026
- imo the pogs gifting is way obvious... Visma riders obeyed team orders even though Kuss deserved his victory with Roglic having a sook.
Davide31-07-2026 - yup.OCexile31-07-2026
- I'm one of those who really hopes Pog is clean, as he has real (and entertaining) skills like attacking at just the right moment to beat Carapaz and Martinez on Alpe d'Huez, taking just the right line to pull away on the descent on Stage 6, crashing in such a way that he can carry on and win, or avoiding crashing over a bidon. For me, the real moment of temptation to boost performance in some way would surely be when a rider is feeling desperate (whether to win again or simply not crack); and we might not be aware of such an inner struggle.Hills3331-07-2026
- So many reasons but let’s be nice and just say, the system preys on the naïve and usually once you realise something is up you’re already compromised so unlikely to shout it out. C’mon, how much did you know about how the world REALLY functions as a teen? Oh and lest we forget, you’re whole entourage (with more knowledge and experience) is rewarded how? Usually commissions, so what interest to protect you ethically as long as everyone plays the game?Jumpyjohn31-07-2026
- Since over 30 years cycling has talked about little else. Maybe that didn’t reach your birthplace at the time and as you left when the brown stuff hit the fan there…Jumpyjohn31-07-2026
- Didn't enjoy it anymore, always will be 2nd behind tadejZamorano31-07-2026
Loading
Write a comment