La Vuelta Femenina overall leader Noemi Rüegg suffers fractured shoulder in stage 2 crash

Both riders crashed into a culvert and were quickly attended to by medics.

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It was announced not long after that Rüegg had abandoned. On Tuesday morning, her EF Education-Oatly team announced that she had sustained a fractured right shoulder in the crash and will require surgery.

“Noemi suffered a fracture to her right shoulder in the crash that forced her to abandon the Vuelta. The fracture will require surgery. Join us in wishing our champ all the best on her recovery,” the team announced.

Rüegg led the Vuelta after winning the stage 1 sprint in Salvaterra de Miño over Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-ProTime).

German Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ), who picked up a six-second time bonus at the intermediate sprint on Sunday, was second overall tied on time with Rüegg at the start of Monday’s stage.

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After finishing second in the stage 2 sprint, Koch assumed the race lead by six seconds ahead of stage winner Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Ciabocco, 16th on stage 1, was in the best young rider’s jersey on the same time as five other riders. The Italian finished the second stage in 62nd, 2:29 behind Bossuyt.

Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance-Soudal) moved into the white jersey after stage 2.