The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have announced that Swiss rider Muriel Furrer has passed away in hospital after suffering a serious head injury at the Road World Championships.
The 18-year-old was competing in the junior road race with torrential rain hitting the course throughout with many accidents throughout.
Furrer crashed during the race from Uster to Zurich and suffered a ‘serious head injury’ and was airlifted to hospital.
But the young rider has sadly passed away in hospital earlier on Friday, the UCI announced.
Muriel Furrer has died after the serious crash
UCI
“It is with great sadness that the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Organising Committee of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich (Switzerland) today learned the tragic news of the death of young Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer,” their statement read.
“With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her.
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“The 18-year-old rider fell heavily yesterday, Thursday 26 September, during the Women Junior road race, and suffered a serious head injury before being flown to hospital by helicopter in a very critical condition.
“Muriel Furrer sadly passed away today at Zurich University Hospital.
“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.
“Muriel Furrer’s family asks that their privacy be respected at this very painful time.”
Great Britain’s Imogen Wolff was among the others to suffer separate falls in the race, which was won by compatriot Cat Ferguson.
Furrer finished second in both the junior time trial and road race in Switzerland’s national championships earlier this year.
The cycling world mourns the loss of Muriel Furrer https://t.co/o623BqxNLU pic.twitter.com/oGngEKBEqR
— UCI_media (@UCI_media) September 27, 2024
The Swiss teenager finished 44th in the junior time trial at the World Championships earlier this week.
Organisers of the World Championships agreed with Furrer’s family for the competition to ‘continue according to the race programme’ prior to her death.
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