Teams confirm Marlen Reusser and Kim Le Court-Pienaar both suffered fractures due to Tour of Flanders crash

Marlen Reusser and Kim Le Court-Pienaar both sustained fractures following a significant crash during the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, their respective teams have confirmed. The incident occurred just before the notorious Koppenberg climb, a section that saw several major crashes throughout the race. Movistar revealed that Reusser suffered a fractured vertebra in her lower back, while AG Insurance-Soudal reported that Le Court-Pienaar fractured her wrist, an injury serious enough to require surgery. Le Court-Pienaar, who finished fifth in the 2025 Tour of Flanders and claimed victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year, is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Herentals. Her team confirmed that an operation is planned in the coming days to address her wrist injury. Reusser, a four-time top ten finisher in Flanders with a best result of fifth in 2022, remains hospitalised for an unspecified duration. Initial reports had suggested Reusser’s injury was limited to bruising, but it was later clarified that she had fractured a lumbar vertebra. Reusser had recently returned to competition after a lengthy recovery from a crash at the UAE Tour, where she avoided fractures but suffered deep cuts to her hand and knee. Her comeback was marked by an impressive victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen, where she edged out Demi Vollering and Lieke Nooijen in a tightly contested sprint. The Tour of Flanders race itself was marred by multiple crashes, including an early pile-up involving around 20 riders colliding with a traffic signal, and a further mass crash near the Koppenberg that affected several riders, including the two injured athletes. Another notable casualty was Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx-Protime, a pre-race favourite who crashed on the descent from the Koppenberg and was forced to abandon the race. The series of incidents significantly impacted the race dynamics and highlighted the treacherous nature of the course. With two prominent riders sidelined due to injury, the aftermath of the Tour of Flanders raises questions about rider safety on some of the sport’s most challenging routes and the potential implications for upcoming Spring Classics.