Muriel Furrer has died from the injuries she sustained in her crash during the junior women’s road at the UCI World Championships in Zurich. She was 18 years old.
The Swiss rider sustained a serious head injury in the crash, which is understood to have taken place near Küsnacht on the Worlds finishing circuit. After the race, Furrer was airlifted by helicopter for treatment at Zurich University Hospital.
Furrer’s death was announced by the UCI and the Zurich Worlds organising committee on Friday afternoon during the under-23 men's road race.
“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,” read the statement.
“With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her.
"The 18-year-old rider fell heavily yesterday, Thursday 26 September, during the Junior Women 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."
Although Furrer’s condition was described as critical overnight, the UCI confirmed on Friday morning that the day’s scheduled racing would proceed as planned, at the request of the rider’s family.
The UCI stated earlier on Friday that there were “still no established facts regarding how the accident happened,” adding that “investigations by the competent authorities are ongoing.” The governing body and organising committe are due to hold a press conference later on Friday afternoon.
A native of Egg in the canton of Zurich, Furrer was a promising road, cyclocross and mountain bike rider. She was second in both the time trial and road race at the Swiss Championships in June, and she was also part of the Swiss mountain bike team that won bronze at the European Championships in Romania in May. Furrer was a student at the United School of Sports in Zurich.
“Our hearts are broken, we have no words,” read a statement from Swiss Cycling. “It is with a heavy heart and infinite sadness that we have to say goodbye to Muriel Furrer today. We are losing a warm-hearted and wonderful young woman who always had a smile on her face. There is no understanding, only pain and sadness.”
