Eleonora Ciabocco out of 2026 La Vuelta Femenina after scans reveal broken bones

20260503LVF1 - Eleonora Ciabocco White Jersey Vuelta Stage 1

Eleonora Ciabocco will not start the next stage of La Vuelta Femenina after hospital checks confirmed she suffered broken bones in a crash on the previous stage.

Her team confirmed the update after Ciabocco underwent multiple checks and scans following the stage. The final scan revealed the extent of the injury, matching the medical team’s initial concern that she had sustained fractures.

Ciabocco withdrawn after hospital checks

Ciabocco was assessed after the stage and sent for further medical examination, with the results confirming that she would be unable to continue in the race.

“After the stage yesterday, Eleonora Ciabocco went for multiple checks and scans at the hospital, with the final one revealing what our medical team suspected – that she unfortunately suffered some broken bones in the crash,” the team said.

The Italian will now leave La Vuelta Femenina and return home to rest and recover. No detailed injury breakdown or recovery timeline has been provided.

Another crash withdrawal from La Vuelta Femenina

Ciabocco’s exit adds to the physical toll of the race, with crashes already shaping the early stages and forcing several riders out before the route reaches its decisive climbing days. Margot Vanpachtenbeke is another DNS today because of crashes.

For her team, the withdrawal removes another support option from the race. In a Grand Tour, every rider matters, especially across a week where positioning, protection and recovery become increasingly important as fatigue builds. Losing a rider through injury changes the workload for the remaining line-up and reduces flexibility across the coming stages.

For Ciabocco, the immediate priority is simpler. The race is over, and the focus now moves to proper recovery before any return to training or competition is considered.

Recovery now the focus

The team’s message ended with support for the rider, saying Ciabocco would head home to “rest and recover” after the crash.

With broken bones confirmed, any comeback timeline will depend on the exact nature of the injuries and how her recovery progresses. For now, there is no need to rush that process. Ciabocco’s La Vuelta Femenina ends with an injury that requires time, care and patience before the next racing target can come into view.