Swiss Cycling has experienced two major tragedies within the past year. The first was the death of Gino Mäder during the Tour de Suisse, Switzerland’s premier WorldTour race, and now the loss of Muriel Furrer during the World Championships held in the country. “You don’t ride a bike to die,” said David Lappartient, president of the UCI, in response to the incident.
Muriel Furrer, an 18-year-old cyclist, crashed just a few kilometers from her hometown of Egg, located south of Zürich, during Thursday’s women’s junior road race. The tragic event has cast a shadow over the World Championships, though the decision was made to proceed with the races, albeit with toned-down celebrations.
Details surrounding the crash remain scarce, with open questions about what caused the accident, its timing, and how long it took for her to be airlifted to the hospital. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of the course, which is set to be used for both the elite men’s and women’s road races, as well as some paracycling events. Officials confirmed on Friday that additional safety measures have been implemented.
During his annual press conference on Saturday, UCI President Lappartient offered limited information, stating that a police investigation is underway in collaboration with the local public prosecutor. He emphasized that it is the police’s responsibility to determine the exact circumstances of the crash and declined to speculate on possible scenarios.
Addressing questions about the timing of the incident, Lappartient reiterated that investigations are ongoing and that the UCI was informed as soon as the situation unfolded. He also stated that any findings would be shared in consultation with Furrer’s family and the national federation.
In light of this latest tragedy, many are questioning how cycling races can be made safer. The crash occurred on the Zürich city circuit, a well-monitored 27-kilometer route within the city, not a remote road. Lappartient acknowledged the challenges of ensuring safety in an open-road sport and noted that accidents often happen during training, not just in races. He emphasized the UCI’s efforts, through initiatives like the SafeR scheme, to improve safety for cyclists.
While acknowledging that some crashes result from rider behavior, Lappartient stressed the need for all parties—teams, organizers, and the UCI—to work together to enhance safety. He also mentioned that with an increasing number of obstacles on roads, organizing races has become more complex.
Regarding the continuation of the World Championships, Lappartient clarified that canceling the event was not considered the best way to honor Muriel Furrer’s memory. He explained that Swiss Cycling and the UCI decided to reduce festivities, such as canceling the Gala dinner and other celebratory events, but felt it was important for the races to continue as a tribute to the athletes.
Leave a Reply