the Worlds mourned by the death of Muriel Furrer, 18-year-old Swiss runner

The World Cycling Championships were mourned on Friday by the death of an 18-year-old Swiss rider, Muriel Furrer, who died after a serious fall the day before during the junior race, the circumstances of which remain unclear.

“It is with very deep sadness that the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the Organizing Committee of the world championships (…) in Zurich (Switzerland) learned today the tragic news of the death of the young Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer »indicated the UCI.

The worst had been feared since the announcement the day before of the accident to which the young Swiss woman had suffered: she was in a state of “very critical”in the words of the UCI, after being airlifted to the hospital with “severe head trauma”.

“Muriel Furrer unfortunately died today at the University Hospital of Zurich”announced the UCI on Friday, deploring the disappearance of a “runner who had the future ahead of her”.

At a press conference, UCI sports director Peter Van den Abeele said that “the investigation carried out by the competent authorities” was ” in progress “ and that he was unable to provide further details of the circumstances.

“No reliable information”

“The World Championship flags will be at half-mast for the rest of the competition and we have reduced the protocol ceremonies. The UCI gala which was to take place on Saturday evening has been canceled »added Olivier Senn, deputy director of the World Championships organizing committee.

Following the family’s wishes, the World Championships will continue, notably with the women’s and men’s events on Saturday and Sunday, he added.

Muriel Furrer fell heavily in the pouring rain during the junior road race, on the same course as the other races on the Worlds program.

The exact location of his fall has not been specified. According to Swiss media, the accident occurred in a forest above Küsnacht, on the eastern shore of Lake Zurich, and the runner took many minutes before being discovered.

She lived in Egg, just ten minutes from the supposed location of the accident, which was not confirmed by the UCI.

“We do not have certain information at the moment”insisted Olivier Senn, when asked about the possibility that the young girl took time to be found.

The Worlds road races, of varying length, end on a final circuit in Zurich and its surroundings which takes several winding roads and descents which can be dangerous, especially in the rain.

“It reminds us how cycling is a magnificent but cruel and dangerous sport,” said Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, double world champion in 2020 and 2021.

“You can’t imagine being in your parents’ shoes, especially with them, it touched me a lot”he added.

Muriel Furrer was considered a great talent in Swiss cycling and had been national vice-champion among juniors on the road and in the time trial since June.

After Gino Mäder

“Our hearts are broken. We are losing a warm and wonderful young woman”declared the Swiss Cycling Federation.

Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation and Federal Councilor (minister) in charge of sport, said “stunned”.

Swiss cycling had already been hit by the death on June 16, 2023 of Gino Mäder, at the age of 26, in a descent in the Tour de Suisse, of which Olivier Senn is the director.

In 2023, a 17-year-old Italian died during a downhill run in a regional junior race in Austria.

And more recently, on July 6, the Norwegian André Drege, 25, also died after a fall, again on a descent, during the 4th stage of the Tour of Austria.

The first half of the season was also marked by several very serious falls in the professional peloton, affecting star riders like Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel.

Many cycling players highlight the fact that bicycles are becoming more and more efficient, which aggravates the danger.