18-Year-Old Swiss Cyclist Who Had ‘a Bright Future Ahead of Her’ Dies After Crash at World Championships

Mar. 15, 2025

Muriel Furrer on Nov. 5, 2022.Photo:Luc Claessen/Getty

Muriel Furrer of Switzerland competes during the 20th UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships 2022 - Women’s Junior / #EuroCross22 / on November 05, 2022 in Namur, Belgium

Luc Claessen/Getty

Muriel Furrer, a budding star in the cycling world, has died after hitting her head during a crash at the Road and Para-cycling World Championships in Switzerland on Thursday, Sept. 26. She was 18 years old.

“It is with great sadness that the Union Cycliste Internationale [UCI] and the organizing 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,” the UCI confirmed ina statementFriday, Sept. 27, adding, “With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her.”

Furrer crashed “heavily” during Thursday’s race and “suffered a serious head injury,” the cycling union said. The teenager was airlifted to Zurich University Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead Friday afternoon.

“The UCI and the Organising Committee of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships offer their sincere condolences to Muriel Furrer’s family, friends and her Federation Swiss Cycling,” they added.

The screen shows cyclist Muriel Furrer, who sadly passed away after suffering a severe head injury at the UCI Paracycling and Road World Championships 2024during the 97th UCI Cycling World Championships Zurich 2024, Men’s U23 Road Race a 173.6km one day race from Uster to Zurich on September 27, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland

Dario Belingheri/Getty

The World Championships continued on Friday after race organizers conferred with Furrer’s family and they said they wanted the race to go on, theBBC,The Guardian, andthe Associated Press.

The AP reported that Furrer’s death marks the second time a Swiss rider has died during a race in their home country in as many seasons, after 26-year-oldGino Mäderdied as a result of a crash in 2023.

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Furrer is believed to have crashed near the city of Küsnacht, which is along the race’s 73.6 kilometer route, according toThe Guardian. ESPNreportedthat there was heavy rain throughout Thursday’s race and that roads were slick.

Muriel Furrer on Sept. 24, 2024.Dario Belingheri/Getty

Muriel Furrer of Team Switzerland sprints during the 97th UCI Cycling World Championships Zurich 2024, Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial a 18.8km one day race from Zurich to Zurich on September 24, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland

source: people.com