Update
Swiss woman succumbs to injuries
18-year-old cyclist Furrer dies after falling at the World Cup
September 27, 2024, 2:58 p.m
The cyclist Muriel Furrer died after falling at the World Championships in Zurich. The 18-year-old Swiss succumbed to the injuries she sustained on Thursday in hospital, as announced by the world association UCI and the World Cup organizers. How the accident occurred is still unclear.
The cyclist Muriel Furrer is dead. The 18-year-old Swiss woman died from injuries sustained in a fall on Thursday. This was announced by the world association UCI and the organizers. Murrer died in the University Hospital of Zurich.
“With the death of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider who had a great future ahead of her,” said the UCI statement. Murrer’s family has asked that their privacy be respected during this difficult time. The association has scheduled a press conference for this afternoon at 5 p.m.
When she fell in the junior women’s race at the World Road Cycling Championships in Zurich, Furrer suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. She fell in a forest on the lap on the north side of Lake Zurich, which is run in all road races. Furrer was taken to a hospital by rescue helicopter. However, the doctors there could no longer save her life. It is still unclear exactly how the fall occurred. The investigations are ongoing. This Friday the World Cup continued with the U23 men’s race.
Frequency of serious falls
Furrer was considered an up-and-coming talent in Swiss cycling. She was active on road bikes, mountain bikes and cyclocross. At the European Mountain Bike Championships in Romania in May she won the bronze medal in the team competition. Furrer lived in close proximity to the World Cup track and attended the United School of Sports in Zurich.
There has been an increasing number of serious falls in cycling in recent times. In July, the Norwegian André Drege fell and died on the descent from the Großglockner during the Tour of Austria. In June 2023, the Swiss Gino Mäder succumbed to his injuries one day after a fall on the descent of the Albula Pass at the Tour de Suisse. Mäder’s death sparked a debate about safety in cycling.
