The young Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer, only 18 years old, passed away after a serious accident during the UCI Road World Championship in Zurich on Thursday afternoon. The race took place under heavy rain, which led to several accidents.
Furrer was participating in the junior women’s race, which was won by Cat Ferguson from the British team. During the race, the young cyclist suffered a violent fall that resulted in a serious head injury. She was quickly assisted and airlifted to the hospital, but unfortunately, she did not survive her injuries.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) issued a statement confirming the tragic news: “With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a cyclist with a bright future ahead. The UCI and the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Road Cycling and Para-cycling World Championships offer their heartfelt condolences to Muriel Furrer’s family, friends, and Swiss Cycling Federation. The family of Muriel Furrer requests that their privacy be respected during this very painful time.”
Swiss Cycling, in turn, expressed its grief via X (formerly Twitter): “Our hearts are broken. It is with immense sorrow and infinite sadness that we have to say goodbye to Muriel Furrer. We are losing a warm and wonderful young woman who always had a smile on her face. There is no understanding, only pain and sadness.”
Despite the incident, the UCI confirmed that the World Championship will continue as planned but emphasized that the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation. “Investigations by the relevant authorities are ongoing,” said a spokesperson.
Muriel Furrer was a promising athlete in Swiss cycling. This year, she won two silver medals in the time trial and road race at the Swiss National Championships, demonstrating her great talent and potential.
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Source: UCI. Photos: Instagram @murielfurrer.