The 26-year-old Mäder crashed after a left-hand turn on a fast downhill road approaching the end of the mountainous fifth stage into La Punt. His fall of about 30 metres was stopped by a stream.
‘Shining light’:Gino Mäder was a talented cyclist and off the bike campaigned for the environment.AP
“Gino lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained,” his Bahrain Victorious team said in a statement. “Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital,Gino couldn’t make it through this,his final and biggest challenge,and at 11.30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team.”
Medical staff who reached Mäder found him motionless in the water,race organisers said on Thursday. CPR was performed on him before he was airlifted to the hospital.
“Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident,and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Bahrain Victorious said.
Police in the Swiss canton of Graubünden said a joint investigation with prosecutors wanted to hear from witnesses who might have seen and filmed the incident.
Switzerland’s Gino Mäder,left,receives medical attention after crashing as Magnus Sheffield of the United States,right,is helped away.AP
The Tour de Suisse is a preparation race for next month’s Tour de France.
Mäder’s death was announced about 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the sixth stage in the eight-day race. The start was delayed and riders gathered in a silent tribute before the stage was cancelled.
The peloton rode together in tribute to Mäder for the final 30 kilometres of Friday’s scheduled route. Race organisers later confirmed the men’s race would resume on Saturday and that the upcoming women’s race would also run. However,Mäder’s team and the Swiss-registered Tudor squad both announced before the start of stage seven on Saturday that they would be withdrawing.
“Following the tragic loss of Gino Mäder,Team Bahrain Victorious has taken the decision to withdraw from Tour de Suisse,” the squad posted on Twitter.
Tudor,a Swiss-registered second-tier team which retired Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara runs,also posted on social media that they would not continue.
“After careful consideration and talking to both riders and staff,the team decided not to continue racing this year’s Tour de Suisse. Under these difficult circumstances we feel it is the human way to respect the feelings of our riders and pay respect to Gino,” the team posted on Twitter.
Riders at the Tour de Suisse mourn the loss of their colleague.Keystone
Reigning men’s world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step),who is currently in fourth place in the race standings,led heartfelt tributes following the news of Mäder’s death.
“Devastated by the news,” he said. “My heart and strength is with Gino’s family,friends,teammates.”
The Bahrain Victorious team at the Tour de Suisse rides in honour of Gino Mäder.AP
Evenepoel earlier criticised Thursday’s stage after finishing the day in 10th place.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible,it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” Evenepoel wrote on his Twitter account. “As riders,we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”
A second rider also crashed at the same spot. American Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) sustained a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital.
Gino Mäder celebrates after winning a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2021.LaPresse
In previous incidents,Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was killed in a crash on a descent at the Giro d’Italia in May 2011. Another Belgian rider,Antoine Demoitié,died after crashing at the one-day Gent-Wevelgem race in March 2016.
Mäder was one of Switzerland’s best young riders. He won a stage at the 2021 Giro and placed fifth overall in the Vuelta a Espana that year. He also was fifth in the Paris-Nice stage race in March.
“We are heartbroken,” Tour de Suisse organisers said in a statement. “Gino,you’ve been an excellent rider but even more a wonderful person. Always smiling and making people happy around you.”
Mäder was asked on Sunday by a reporter at the race finish what would make him happy at the end of the week-long race. “If I’m still healthy and I enjoy my home race,maybe have some success with the team,” Mäder had said.
Team manager Milan Erzen praised the rider,saying his “talent,dedication,and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all”.
“Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist,” Erzen said,“but a great person off the bike.”
AP
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights..