The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 27, 2025
Today: March 27, 2025

Swiss teenage cyclist Muriel Furrer has died after crashing at the road world champs

Switzerland Cycling Worlds Rider Dies
September 27, 2024
AP - AP

ZURICH (AP) โ€” Swiss 18-year-old cyclist Muriel Furrer died on Friday, one day after sustaining a head injury in a crash at the road world championships.

โ€œMuriel Furrer sadly passed away today at Zurich University Hospital,โ€ race organizers said in a statement.

Furrer was competing in the junior women's event on rain-slicked roads Thursday morning when she crashed in a forest area south of Zurich. She was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital.

Swiss teenage cyclist Muriel Furrer has died after crashing at the road world champs
Road Worlds Cyclist Dies

At a news conference Friday, a director of the Swiss organizing committee, Olivier Senn, said no official information could yet be given to confirm exactly where the crash happened.

Police and the public prosecutor's office are investigating, Senn said.

โ€œWe have lost a promising young athlete with the full life ahead of her which is very hard to take," he said. โ€œWe cannot imagine how it must feel for the family and friends.โ€

Furrer's family had asked that the championships โ€” which run for nine days through Sunday โ€” continue on schedule, International Cycling Union (UCI) sports director Peter van den Abeele said.

Swiss teenage cyclist Muriel Furrer has died after crashing at the road world champs
Road Worlds Rider Dies

A gala event for the UCI scheduled on Saturday evening has been canceled, as were public events to celebrate the races planned Friday in Zurich.

The women's and men's elite races scheduled Saturday and Sunday, respectively, will use the same stretch of road where the fatal crash happened.

โ€œThe downhill was looked at again just today,โ€ Senn said. "We have slightly amended the staff on site. We believe we always do the maximum on the safety and security of the riders.โ€

The UCI paid tribute to the Swiss teenager in a statement: "With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her.โ€

Furrer is the second Swiss cyclist to have died after crashing on home roads in the past two seasons.

Gino Mรคder suffered a fatal crash at the Tour de Suisse in June 2023. The 26-year-old rider went off the road and crashed down a ravine during a descent and died from his injuries the next day.

โ€œObviously it is another tragic death," Senn said. "There is a lot of similarities, similar feelings. Today is about Muriel.โ€

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Related Articles

Soldier charged with murder of missing pregnant wife in Hawaii Gene Hackman and his wife tested negative for carbon monoxide, sheriff says Justin Tucker calls inappropriate sexual misconduct allegations against him โ€˜so shocking and heart-breakingโ€™ What to know about the airplane that crashed while landing at Toronto's airport
Share This

Popular

Economy|Europe|Health|Political

UK's Starmer heads for test of health strategy as Reform gains ground

UK's Starmer heads for test of health strategy as Reform gains ground
Business|Europe|Finance

Is Britain on the cusp of another multibillion-pound consumer finance scandal?

Is Britain on the cusp of another multibillion-pound consumer finance scandal?
Business|Economy|Europe|Political

UK vehicle output falls in February, industry data shows

UK vehicle output falls in February, industry data shows
Business|Economy|Europe|Political

France posts smaller than expect 2024 budget deficit

France posts smaller than expect 2024 budget deficit

Europe

Business|Economy|Europe|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

German auto shares seen lower after Trump announces 25% tariffs

German auto shares seen lower after Trump announces 25% tariffs
Europe|Lifestyle|World

Crowds flock to newest Catholic saint in Assisi โ€” a millennial teen whose ordinariness is the draw

Crowds flock to newest Catholic saint in Assisi โ€” a millennial teen whose ordinariness is the draw
Europe|Political|US|World

NATO clarifies comments that four missing US soldiers had died during training in Lithuania

NATO clarifies comments that four missing US soldiers had died during training in Lithuania
Business|Economy|Europe|Finance|Political

Trump tariffs loom over Britain's debt-laden economy

Trump tariffs loom over Britain's debt-laden economy