The Swiss junior rider Muriel Furrer has passed away a day after her serious fall during the road cycling World Championships in Zurich. The 18-year-old had crashed during the junior women’s race and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Furrer died at the University Hospital in Zurich.
„The international cycling community loses a rider with a great future ahead of her with the death of Muriel Furrer,“ said a statement from the UCI World Federation. Furrer’s family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Despite the tragic incident, the World Championships will continue as planned, according to the UCI and the local organizing committee (LOC). „The races will go on, as per the family’s wishes,“ said Olivier Senn from the LOC. The women’s race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, followed by the men’s race on Sunday. Furrer fell during the junior women’s race on Thursday in a wooded area on the north side of Lake Zurich. She was airlifted to a hospital, but unfortunately, the doctors could not save her life.
The organizers did not provide details about the accident, deferring to the authorities. „The public prosecutor’s office and the police are investigating. There is currently no confirmed information,“ said Senn, who is also the director of the Tour de Suisse. The exact location of the fall is unknown.
Safety measures along the race route have been increased. „We have more marshals on the descent and re-evaluated the descent in the morning. We are doing our utmost for the safety of the riders,“ assured Senn. „We are all deeply affected by this situation, but we must and will continue.“
Following Furrer’s passing, the events surrounding the races have been scaled back. All flags at Sechseläutenplatz are flying at half-mast, and award ceremonies will be held on a smaller scale. The UCI has canceled its gala scheduled for Saturday evening.
Furrer was considered a rising talent in Swiss cycling, participating in road cycling, mountain biking, and cyclocross. She won the bronze medal in the team event at the Mountain Bike European Championships in Romania in May. Furrer lived near the World Championships route and attended the United School of Sports in Zurich.
Recent years have seen an increase in serious cycling accidents. In July, Norwegian rider André Drege tragically passed away after a fall during the Tour of Austria on the descent from Großglockner. In June 2023, Swiss rider Gino Mäder succumbed to his injuries a day after a fall on the descent of the Albula Pass during the Tour de Suisse. Mäder’s death sparked a debate about safety in cycling.
