GENEVA, Switzerland — Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder died on Friday, a day after falling into a ravine during the Tour de Suisse, the Bahrain-Victorious team announced.
Mäder, 26, crashed on a descent near the end of mountainous stage five to La Punt.
“Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” the team said in a statement. Despite the efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur Hospital, Gino could not overcome this last and greatest challenge, and at 11:30 a.m. we said goodbye to one of our team’s bright lights.”
Mäder’s death was announced about 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the sixth stage of the eight-day race. The start was delayed and the riders gathered to pay a silent tribute before the stage was neutralised.
The peloton rode together in tribute to Mäder for the last 30 kilometers of the course scheduled for Friday. The race is expected to resume on Saturday.
“(I am) appalled by the news,” said world champion Remco Evenepoel, who held fourth overall in the race. “My heart and strength are with Gino’s family, friends and teammates.”
Medical personnel who rescued Mäder on Thursday found him motionless in the water. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation before he was airlifted to hospital.
“Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time,” Bahrain-Victorious said.
Police in the Swiss canton of Grisons said a joint investigation with prosecutors wanted to hear from witnesses who may have seen and filmed the incident.
The Tour de Suisse is a preparatory race for the Tour de France, which will take place from July 1 to 23.
Evenepoel had previously criticized Thursday’s stage, during which he finished 10th.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it was not a good decision to let us finish on this dangerous descent,” Evenepoel wrote on his Twitter account.
“As runners, we should also think about the risks we take when descending a mountain.”
A second cyclist also fell in the same place. American Magnus Sheffield suffered a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital.
In previous incidents in cycling, Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was killed in a fall on a descent in the Giro d’Italia in May 2011. Another Belgian rider, Antoine Demoitié, died after falling during the race. one day of Ghent-Wevelgem in March 2016.
Mäder was one of the best young Swiss riders. He won a stage in the Tour of Italy in 2021 and finished fifth overall in the Tour of Spain that same year. He also finished fifth in the Paris-Nice stage race in March.
“We are heartbroken,” Tour de Suisse organizers said in a statement.
“Gino, you were an excellent runner but even more, a wonderful person. Always smiling and making people around you happy.”
Sunday, at the finish of the race, a journalist asked Mäder what would make him happy at the end of this week of racing.
“If I’m still healthy and enjoying my home race. Maybe be successful with the team,” replied Mäder.
Team principal Milan Erzen praised the rider.
“His talent, dedication and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all. Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, but he was also a great person once he got off his bike.
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With contributions from Graham Dunbar, Associated Press
