Shirin van Anrooij taken to hospital after crash at Cyclo-cross World Cup in Tabor

By Kirsten Frattini
last updated

Junior world champion sustains injury to arm caused by disc brake, says Telenet Baloise Lions

UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup
The crash at the elite women's race of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Tabor (Image credit: Getty Images)

Shirin van Anrooij has been taken to hospital with injuries sustained in a crash during the elite women's race at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Tabor on Sunday. The junior world champion injured her arm and will undergo surgery to correct a wound caused by a piece of disc brake, according to her team Telenet Baloise Lions.

"Shirin Van Anrooij her forearm was injured by a piece of a disc brake in the crash following the start of the race. She will undergo surgery this evening. At this moment, it looks like no muscles or tendons are heavily damaged," the team stated in a post on Twitter.

According to her Telenet Baloise Lions manager Sven Nys following the crash, Van Anrooij was conscious but has sustained injuries to her arm and hip.

"She is conscious, but I have never seen such a wound," Nys told reports from Wielerflits (opens in new tab). "It is an open wound and there is also a fracture. Her hip didn't look good either. She also lost a lot of blood.

"Now she is in hospital with her mother. You do not want to experience this. The sad thing is that she also saw the gaping wound herself. It's really bad."

The crash happened at the start of the elite women's race and involved several riders including Loes Sels and Katie Compton

“I heard Shirin calling and had to look away, because it didn't look good. Very bizarre," Sels told Wielerflits. “They hooked together and I went on top of [the crash], too. My back was blocked because of that and it was over after the first round. I don't think it has ever happened in the cross before, such a heavy fall."

Van Anrooij won the junior world title at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships held in February in Dübendorf, Switzerland. She is also set to being her road racing season as a neo-pro with Trek-Segafredo in 2021. 

In Tabor, Van Anrooij's teammate Lucinda Brand won the elite women's race ahead of world champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix), second place by 24 seconds, with Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) completing an all-Dutch podium, 32 seconds back.

Today's best Cyber Monday deals

Today's cycling-related highlights from the Cyber Monday sales. For even more, view our guide to the best Cyber Monday bike deals where you'll find on all things cycling, including bikes, helmets, clothing and more. 

Today's best deals: USA

Today's best deals: UK

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini
Women's Editor

Kirsten Frattini is an honours graduate of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University in Toronto, Canada. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's WorldTour. She has worked in both print and digital publishing, and started with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. Moving into a Production Editor's role in 2014, she produces and publishes international race coverage for all men's and women's races including Spring Classics, Grand Tours, World Championships and Olympic Games, and writes and edits news and features. As the Women's Editor at Cyclingnews, Kirsten also coordinates and oversees the global coverage of races, news, features and podcasts about women's professional cycling.