Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder has died at the age of 26 after a high-speed crash during the Tour de Suisse.
“On Friday 16th June, following a very serious crash during stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained,” the team, Bahrain Victorious, said in a statement.
“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.”
Mäder was involved in a crash with American Magnus Sheffield, 21, on Thursday during stage five of the race on the descent of the Albula Pass and fell into a ravine, according to the BBC — which reported that Mäder was resuscitated at the scene before being airlifted to hospital in Chur, where he died on Friday morning.
According to Sheffield’s Strava date, the two riders were traveling 60 mph down the dangerous descent.
When medical personnel first found the rider after the crash, he was laying motionless in a body of water, TMZ reported.
“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge,” Mäder’s team said, “and at 11:30 a.m. we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team.”
Sheffield sustained a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital, organizers said, per ESPN.
Friday’s stage six was cancelled, according to BBC, but the peloton will finish the final 18 miles together in honor of Mäder.
Team Bahrain Victorious riders crossed the finish line “solo” in memory of Mäder, who was memorialized with a sign that read: “We ride for you Gino!”
Mäder’s death was announced about 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the sixth stage in the eight-day Tour de Suisse, according to ESPN.
Team managing director Milan Erzen said the peloton will ride in honor of Mäder, “keeping his memory on every road we race.”
“Gino was an extraordinary athlete, an example of determination, a valued member of our team and the whole cycling community,” the team said.
“His talent, dedication and passion for the sport has inspired us all.”
Following stage five, Soudal-Quickstep rider and road race world champion Remco Evenepoel expressed his concerns on Twitter over the “dangerous descent” at the finish, and sent well wishes to those injured in the crash.
Although the roads are cleared for the cyclists, there are no protective barriers that separate the road from the mountainsides.
“I hope that the final of today’s stage is food for thought for both cycling organizers as well as ourselves as riders,” Evenepoel wrote. “While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent. As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain. My thoughts & strength is with @ginomaeder and @MagnusSheffield!”
Mäder, who previously was a track cyclist, switched to road racing in 2019, and joined Team Bahrain Victorious two years later.
In 2021, he won stage six of the Giro d’Italia, beating 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal.
He also won the young rider classification at the 2021 Vuelta a España.
Mäder’s family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss, the team said.
