Urška Žigart’s season could be over after the Slovenian suffered another jaw fracture in a crash at the Faun Tour.
It’s a total bummer for Žigart, as she was showing fine form after her season was derailed earlier this year.
“Following her crash, further examinations have revealed a new fracture of the jaw. With it being a repeated fracture, her 2026 season is likely to come to an early end,” her team posted.
The AG Insurance-Soudal rider had been selected for Slovenia’s team for the world championships in Montreal, but the latest injury is expected to keep her out of the Sept. 26 road race. The course would definitely suit her, given her strong climbing prowess. She might not have been the favourite to win, but a top-10 was totally in the cards.
Second big crash this year
Žigart, 29, broke her jaw in an absolutely horrific crash at the Tour de Suisse in June. The former national champ hit a speed bump at a really strange spot in the race–at the end–and went over the bars. Thankfully the injuries weren’t worse as it was just awful to watch. She had returned to racing and appeared to be in strong form at the Faun Tour, sitting third overall when she went down.
The injury is another blow for a rider who also competed at the Tour de France Femmes in August, finishing 48th overall.
She is now in the same boat as her fiancée, Tadej Pogačar. It’s double bad luck for cycling’s royal couple.
The current men’s world champion crashed out of La Vuelta A España in the red jersey. He was poised to win that, and looked good to defend his crown at the road worlds. He was supposed to still come to cheer on Žigart and his Slovenian teammates, however. Now, they both may be there on the sidelines. What a roller coaster of a sport, this cycling thing.
There are two Canadians racing at the Faun Tour: Vancouver’s Sidney Swierenga and Laval, Que.’s Emilie Fortin. Swierenga sits 20th overall, and finished fourth on Stage 2. It’s another great stage race for the talented teenager. Fortin, who’s been having a solid 2026 after a long battle with the Epstein-Barr virus.