Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer has passed away following a severe head injury at the world championships in Switzerland.
The 18-year-old had a crash during the junior road race on Thursday and was airlifted to hospital.
Heavy rain poured throughout much of Thursday’s events in Zurich.
At a Friday press briefing, Peter van den Abeele, sports director of the global governing body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), stated they couldn’t provide more details about the incident as it was now under public authority investigation.
He noted: “The UCI and the organising committee are honouring the family’s wish to proceed with these world championships.”
However, Friday’s medal ceremony protocol has been modified, with no music or anthems played and flags flown at half-mast.
A moment of silence will be observed and a condolence message read, with Furrer’s photo displayed on the video screen.
All Friday evening activities have been called off, along with the UCI gala planned for Saturday.
Another cycling death increases safety concerns
Road cycling safety has come under the spotlight in recent years and the UCI introduced the SafeR campaign in 2023 to analyse risks involved in events.
Last year, Furrer’s compatriot Gino Mader was killed, aged 26, after a crash while descending at high speed during the Tour de Suisse.
At the Tour of Austria in July, Norwegian cyclist Andre Drege, 25, was fatally injured in a crash on the descent of the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain.
Olivier Senn, sports director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Road and Para-cycling World Championships, said: “We believe we always do the maximum for the safety and security of the riders. The downhill was looked at again with the rain on site.”
According to Senn, there was no information yet about the exact point of the accident and he said “we have slightly amended the staff on site”.
“With respect to the family, please use facts and not rumours,” he added.
