Multiple facial fractures and broken shoulder for Angliru stage winner Petra Stiasny after training crash

Petra Stiasny, the Swiss climber for Human Powered Health, has suffered serious injuries following a training crash just weeks after her career-defining victory on the Angliru stage of La Vuelta Femenina. The 24-year-old revealed via social media that she sustained double fractures to her jaw, a fractured shoulder, and damage to her ear canal, all of which required surgery. Stiasny shared a hospital update, emphasising the severity of the accident and confirming she had undergone surgery to address her jaw injuries. The circumstances of the crash remain unclear, but it appears that Stiasny’s face and side bore the brunt of the impact. This setback follows a recent period of misfortune, as she had already been forced to abandon her first race since La Vuelta due to an elbow injury sustained in another crash. Human Powered Health has yet to issue an official statement but expressed solidarity with their rider, highlighting her resilience and fighting spirit. Despite the extent of her injuries, Stiasny remains determined to recover and return to competition stronger. She acknowledged the long road ahead in her recovery and invited support from fans, even requesting recipes for soups and smoothies to aid her healing process. Her message concluded with a defiant motto in Spanish, translating to “If you fall, you get back up, and come back stronger,” underscoring her resolve to overcome this challenging period. Stiasny’s rise in the women’s peloton has been marked by her prowess as a pure climber, with her recent win on the notoriously steep Angliru climb cementing her reputation. Since turning professional in 2021, she has steadily built a name for herself among the sport’s elite climbers. While her immediate future remains uncertain due to these injuries, her determination and previous achievements suggest she will be a rider to watch as she aims to return to form.