The Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer has died after suffering a head injury at the world road race championships in Zurich on Thursday.
“It is with great sadness that the Union Cycliste Internationale [UCI] and the organising committee of the 2024 UCI road world championships in Zurich, Switzerland, today learned the tragic news of the death of young Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer,” a statement read.
“The 18-year-old rider fell heavily [on] Thursday during the women’s junior road race, and suffered a serious head injury before being flown to hospital by helicopter in a very critical condition.”
“Muriel Furrer sadly passed away today at Zurich University Hospital,” the statement added. “With [her] passing, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her.
“The UCI and the organising committee … offer their sincere condolences to Muriel Furrer’s family, friends and her federation, Swiss Cycling. Muriel’s family asks that their privacy be respected at this very painful time.”
In an earlier statement on Friday – released before Furrer’s death was announced – the UCI had said the world road race championships schedule would continue as planned, adding that Furrer’s family “wishes the world championships to continue according to the programme.”
“Investigations into the course of the accident by the responsible authorities are still ongoing. Further explanations will follow at a later date,” the statement concluded. On Thursday, the UCI claimed there were no “established facts” regarding how the fatal accident happened. Furrer is thought to have crashed near Küsnacht on the 73.6km route between Uster and Zurich.
In a message posted on X, Swiss Cycling wrote: “Our hearts are broken, we have no words. It is with a heavy heart and infinite sadness that we have to say goodbye to Muriel Furrer today. We are losing a warm-hearted and wonderful young woman who always had a smile on her face. There is no understanding, only pain and sadness.”
British Cycling, the sport’s governing body in Great Britain, also posted a tribute on social media. “Everyone at British Cycling is devastated to learn of the passing of Muriel Furrer today. Muriel was a devoted young rider with a bright future ahead of her and will be sorely missed by the cycling world.
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“We send our condolences to her family, friends and teammates at Swiss Cycling,” the statement concluded. The British rider Cat Ferguson, who won Thursday’s road race event, has also posted a tribute to Furrer on Instagram.
Furrer, who finished 44th in the junior women’s time trial held earlier this week, was an ambassador for the world championships as part of the Swiss junior team. As well as road racing, Furrer also took part in cross-country cycling and featured at the world mountain bike championships last month in Andorra.
