Moolman Pasio requires 60 stitches as training crash puts her out of Strade Bianche

VENTURA CALIFORNIA MAY 16 Ashleigh MoolmanPasio of South Africa and Team CCC Liv competes during the Amgen Tour Of California Womens Race 2019 Stage 1 a 965km stage from Ventura to Ventura AmgenTOCWomen AmgenTOC on May 16 2019 in Ventura California Photo by Sean M HaffeyGetty Images

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio at the 2019 Tour of California (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (CCC-Liv), Ella Harris (Canyon-SRAM) and Clara Koppenburg (Équipe Paule Ka) have all been forced out of Strade Bianche after suffering crashes in training in the lead-up to the race.

All three women were set to return to Women's WorldTour racing in Tuscany on Saturday, but their teams now start the race one woman short due to their accidents coming so close to the race.

Unfortunately I’m not on my way for sign @strade_bianche this morning... instead I’m on my way back home due to a bad crash in yesterday’s training... Really sad to leave my teammates alone today since we were absolutely ready to rock this race! 🤩 but I’m 100% convinced that they will still make some fireworks out there today! I wish every girl in the peloton today best of luck and no crash! Be safe girls!🍀 #noraceforme #crash #timetorest #dissapointed #goodluck #staysafeeveryone #stradebianche #crossingfingersformyteam Clara Koppenburg
A photo posted by @clara_koppenburg on Aug 1, 2020 at 12:39am PDT

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

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Prior to joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.

As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Dani also oversees How to Watch guides and works on The Leadout newsletter throughout the season. Their favourite races are Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix and their favourite published article is from the 2024 edition of the latter: 'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix