A crash on the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse claimed the life of 26-year-old Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder, his Bahrain Victorious team said on Friday.
The race’s officials reported that over 200 kilometers into the race, American racer Magnus Sheffield and Mäder crashed violently. They were descending the Albula Pass towards La Punt, where the stage ended.
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“We are devastated by the loss of our exceptional cyclist, Gino Mäder,” Bahrain-Victorious managing director Milan Erzen said in a statement. “His talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all. Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, but a great person off the bike. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
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On the last descent of the day towards La Punt in southeast Switzerland, Mäder went off the road and plunged into a ravine. He was discovered unconscious in water and revived on the spot by emergency personnel before being flown to a hospital in Chur.
Mäder had represented Bahrain Victorious since 2021 and won the Tour de Suisse and Giro d’Italia stage races in the past. Furthermore, two years earlier, he finished fifth overall in the Vuelta a Espaa.
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Sheffield, also left the road on the same descent on Thursday. The American sustained a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital, organizers said.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” Evenepoel tweeted Thursday. “As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”
Erzen said the team would continue in the race in Mäder’s honor. “We are determined to show the spirit and passion Gino displayed, and he will always remain an integral part of our team,” Erzen said.
