Jaw fracture confirmed for Urska Zigart after a high-speed crash at the Tour de Suisse Women finale
Cycling
Stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse Women 2026 left a worrying image for AG Insurance - Soudal Team. Urska Zigart suffered a broken jaw after being caught in a heavy crash in the final moments of the day, an incident that forced her transfer to hospital and now shifts the focus to her recovery process.
The Belgian team confirmed the extent of the injuries sustained by the Slovenian rider after medical tests conducted following the crash. Although the impact was significant, examinations ruled out any injuries beyond the detected fracture to her jaw.
The crash occurred as the race approached its conclusion in Locarno. With less than a kilometre to go, a chasing group was closing in on the riders up the road. Žigart was positioned near the front of that group when she lost control of her bike.
According to information provided by her team, the rider struck a traffic-calming barrier placed on the road. The contact caused her to fall and triggered a domino effect that brought down several riders around her. The incident happened at high speed and under race tension, as the riders fought for position before the run-in to the finish.
Zigart taken to hospital
After the crash, the race medical staff responded quickly to treat the 29-year-old. Once stabilised at the scene, she was transported to a hospital for a more complete evaluation.
Subsequent scans confirmed that Žigart had sustained a broken jaw. However, the results also brought a positive note amid the seriousness of the situation: no other injuries were detected during the tests performed by specialists.
Medical Update: Urška Žigarthttps://t.co/rxIsJQz5Qv#AGInsuranceSoudal pic.twitter.com/a673bG8v5B
— AG Insurance - Soudal Pro Cycling Team (@agsoudal) June 18, 2026
AG Insurance Soudal later reported that its medical team is already assessing the next steps in both treatment and the recovery process for the Slovenian rider.
Following the diagnosis, the team issued a medical update stressing that the rider’s health is the absolute priority at this time.
"Our main goal is her health and well-being," the team noted, also taking the opportunity to thank the race doctors and the hospital staff who cared for the rider after the crash. The squad also acknowledged the overwhelming amount of support messages Žigart received after the news broke.
Urska Zigart, rider for AG Insurance Soudal.
The crash did not affect only the Slovenian. Three other riders were also involved in the incident in the closing stretch of the stage. Sara Casasola was among those hurt and, according to reports, required stitches due to her wounds. Meanwhile, Ginia Caluori and Maya Kingma escaped more serious damage and suffered only abrasions.
Even so, the incident again highlighted the risks that come with stage finishes, especially in urban areas where groups race tightly packed and at high speed.
Another setback after the scare at the Giro
The Tour de Suisse crash comes shortly after another difficult episode for Žigart. Before the Swiss race, the rider had spoken about the crash she suffered during the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Women.
That experience left a significant mark on the rider, who admitted publicly that she was still affected by what had happened.
"It was a terrifying experience," Žigart said at the time. "I’m still a bit scared after what happened."
Now, the Slovenian faces another recovery period after this latest setback, while her team evaluates the most suitable treatment for an injury that will force her to focus fully on returning to competition in the best possible condition.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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