18-year-old Muriel Furrer has sadly passed away following a heavy fall during the junior women’s road race at the 2024 Road World Championships.
The Swiss rider suffered a serious head injury after crashing in Thursday’s race and was flown to Zürich University Hospital by helicopter in critical condition. On Friday, it was announced she had sadly passed away.
“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,” the UCI said in a statement.
Following the incident but before Furrer’s passing, the Zürich 2024 Local Organising Committee (LOC) said: “Investigations into the course of the accident by the responsible authorities are still ongoing. Further explanations will follow at a later date.
“At present, there are no established facts regarding how the accident happened. Investigations by the authorities are ongoing. For this reason, no further information can be given until further notice.”
Heavy rain fell on the peloton during Thursday’s race, in which Cat Ferguson took the victory.
Before her passing, the LOC had also said it was the wish of Furrer’s family that the World Championships would “continue according to the programme”.
Furrer had followed up her two silver medals at June’s Swiss national championships with 44th in the Worlds junior women’s time trial this past Tuesday. Furrer had said on Instagram that Thursday’s road race was due to be her last race of the season.
The thoughts of everyone at Escape Collective are with Furrer’s family and friends at this difficult time.