The Bahrain Victorious team’s Gino Mäder has died following a crash in stage five of the Tour de Suisse. The crash, which happened yesterday, occurred when Mäder, 26, was descending the Albula Pass at high speeds. He went off the road and into a ravine. He was found unresponsive and resuscitated before being airlifted to the hospital. American Ineos Grenadiers rider Magnus Sheffield was also involved in the crash and was taken to the hospital for bruising and a concussion.
On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticized the decision to compete on such a notoriously dangerous stretch of road. The Belgian took to Twitter to write, “While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn't a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent.”
Bahrain Victorious released a statement early Friday saying, “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.”
“Gino was an extraordinary athlete, an example of determination, a valued member of our team and the whole cycling community. His talent, dedication, and passion for the sport has inspired us all.”
Mäder was especially excited about the Tour de Suisse because he would get to ride on his home roads. He was in his fifth year as a pro. In 2019, he finished fifth at the Vuelta a España earning the young riders’ jersey. He also earned stage wins at the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de Suisse, and the Tour de Romandie.
CyclingNews reports that team manager Milan Erzen said, “We are devastated by the loss of our exceptional cyclist, Gino Mäder. His talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all. Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, but a great person off the bike.”
Velo reports that Mäder was also known for his dedication to raising money for environmental charities. Last year, he donated 1 Swiss Franc to an environmental charity for every rider he beat throughout the season, while he donated over €4,000 in 2021 after his Vuelta performance.
Tour de Suisse also said in a statement that they were “heartbroken,” and paying tribute to an “excellent rider” and “wonderful person.” The UCI called Mäder a “promising young rider who was destined to be part of important chapters of our sport.”
When news of Mäder’s death was announced, the Tour de Suisse immediately neutralized today’s stage. At the wishes of the family, they asked that the route be ridden together in memory of Mäder. The tour said, “The race will be neutralized today and all the riders will form a cortege in memory of Gino Mäder as they ride to the finish line.”
Bicycling’s condolences are with Mäder’s family, friends, and teammates.
Micah Ling is a freelance writer who lives in the mountains of Colorado. She splits her free time between mountain biking and trail running.
