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Cyclist Gino Mäder, 26, dies after a high-speed crash in the Swiss Alps

Bill Chappell

tour de suisse wikipedia

Team Bahrain cyclist Gino Mäder of Switzerland died after suffering a terrible crash in the Tour de Suisse. He's seen here at the 2021 Giro d'Italia road race, wearing the blue jersey signifying the best climber. Dario Belingheri/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Team Bahrain cyclist Gino Mäder of Switzerland died after suffering a terrible crash in the Tour de Suisse. He's seen here at the 2021 Giro d'Italia road race, wearing the blue jersey signifying the best climber.

Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder died Friday, one day after suffering a terrible crash during a mountain descent in stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse. Both Mäder and another racer, Magnus Sheffield of the U.S., were taken to the hospital after they were hurled into a ravine in the Swiss Alps.

Mäder, 26, crashed during the "queen stage" of the race — the label given to a multistage road race's most challenging and grueling days, which usually involve multiple ascents and test even the strongest riders.

A Pro Cyclist Rode An Unofficial, Solo Tour De France And Beat The Pack

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After reaching the Albula Pass at a height just under 7,600 feet, Mäder and other riders faced a roughly 10-kilometer descent , racing down to the stage's finish line. In that segment, a motorcycle camera unit following the race leader clocked speeds of around 100 kph (62 mph).

It's not known precisely what led to the crash; TV broadcasts of the race didn't seem to catch the moment that sent the two riders off the road. "The circumstances of the accident are being clarified," race organizers said on Thursday.

After Mäder's death, the Graubünden cantonal police said on Friday that it is investigating the crash, along with the public prosecutor's office. The police issued a call for witnesses to come forward, particularly if they have video evidence.

The crash came in a high-speed portion of the course

During the descent, the two riders "crashed at very high speed," race organizers said. Another rider, Roland Thalmann, described the scene.

"After a long curve, two bikes were lying on the side of the road, which didn't look nice," Thalmann said, according to Cycling News . "When I looked back, I saw that two riders were quite far down."

tour de suisse wikipedia

Paint outlines of what look to be two tire tracks leading off the road at the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder fell during a high-speed descent of the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse. Mäder, 26, died from injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine. Arnd Wiegmann/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Paint outlines of what look to be two tire tracks leading off the road at the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder fell during a high-speed descent of the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse. Mäder, 26, died from injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine.

"The race doctor was on the scene of the accident within two minutes," organizers said. Dr. Roland Kretsch found Sheffield, 21, responsive, with a concussion and bruises. Mäder was in far worse condition in a creek, as he "lay motionless in the water," according to organizers.

The medical team was able to resuscitate Mäder, and he was airlifted to a hospital. Kretsch later told SRF that the cyclists were found far below the roadway, and that Mäder had injuries to his head area.

Mäder's death stuns the cycling world

"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's cycling squad, Team Bahrain Victorious, said as it announced his death.

"Today and every day, we ride for you, Gino," the team said.

tour de suisse wikipedia

An aerial photo from June 16, 2023, shows the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder crashed during a high-speed descent in the Tour de Suisse. Arnd Wiegmann/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

An aerial photo from June 16, 2023, shows the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder crashed during a high-speed descent in the Tour de Suisse.

After the tragic news emerged, cyclists rode an extremely shortened sixth stage of the Tour de Swiss as a memorial to Mäder, with organizers saying the peloton, or main pack of cyclists, would ride only the final 20 kilometers of the planned course under "neutralized" conditions, meaning competition is suspended.

At Friday's finish line, a large crowd turned out to applaud Mäder's six teammates as they crossed the finish line together.

🇨🇭 #Tourdesuisse In honour of Gino! @tds #RideAsOne pic.twitter.com/3jX6WD4BFq — Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) June 16, 2023

The new plan followed another last-minute change, after an avalanche blocked Friday's planned route in the mountains.

In 2021, Mäder won the best young cyclist's white jersey at La Vuelta, Spain's 21-stage race. He took fifth place in that race — the same spot he earned earlier this year, in the eight-day Paris-Nice race.

The Tour de Suisse isn't one of road cycling's three "Grand Tour" races, but with eight stages and plenty of high mountains, it's widely seen as a key tune-up for the Tour de France in July.

Race course layout is put under scrutiny

After Thursday's crash, Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel, the reigning world champion, criticized the race course's layout, as he sent his hopes for recovery to riders who crashed.

I hope all the guys that were involved in a crash are okay!! 🙏🏻❤️ I hope that the final of today's stage is food for thought for both cycling organisers as well as ourselves as riders. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UZm6sRwiez — Remco Evenepoel (@EvenepoelRemco) June 15, 2023

"While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn't a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent," Evenepoel said . "As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain."

Evenepoel posted that message on Thursday, before news of Mäder's death emerged.

In many stage races with famously imposing mountains, organizers place the finish line at the very top of the mountain, or just beyond it.

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Thursday's stage included three mountain passes, with the first (Furka) and last (Albula) rated as "Hors Catégorie" — a designation reserved for ultra-steep climbs that are beyond cycling's normal 5-level categorization for mountains.

"We will see the best climbers in action again, but the last kilometers will also require a large dose of courage and honed descent skills," the race's official guide stated . It promised that the closing kilometers, descending from the Albula Pass to the mountain village of La Punt, "will be something to see."

Mäder died exactly 75 years after the only other death in the Tour de Suisse, which came when Richard Depoorter crashed in a dim tunnel and was run over by an escort vehicle in 1948, according to Swiss broadcaster RSF .

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Tour de Suisse: Felix Gall grabs GC lead with solo victory on stage 4

Mattias Skjelmose drops to second overall with Remco Evenepoel still in GC hunt

Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team) has won stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse in Leukerbad and narrowly moved into the overall race lead.

The Austrian went long, attacking on the steepest gradients of the long, decisive climb to Höhenweg with 22 kilometres to go. He shot past the remaining breakaways and soloed to victory.

There was a lack of impetus in the chasing group of favourites on this 152.5km stage. While the pace chopped and changed with accelerations and lulls, Gall comfortably held off the disjointed pursuit.

A WorldTour rider since 2020, it is Gall’s first victory as a pro. The 25-year-old already showcased his climbing ability on stage 3, finishing second to Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo).

Finishing 1:02 down, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) won the sprint for second place from ahead of race leader Skjelmose. Thanks to ten bonus seconds gained, Gall leapfrogged the Dane into the lead by two seconds, with Evenepoel in third.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed with the situation, I still cannot really believe it,” Gall said after the finish. “I think I’m in the shape of my life.

“Yesterday, I felt super good. This morning, we said if I feel the same today on the last climb, I have to give it a try. I didn’t really think it would be possible because it was still a long way to the finish line … if I have the best legs in my life, I’m not going to wait in the bunch and look at the others.”

Third overall at the start of the day, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) lost over a minute to his fellow contenders and fell to sixth place overall.

How it unfolded

There was a fierce fight for the break around the opening circuit in Monthey and the valley roads of Valais. After a red-hot opening hour ridden at 53km/h average speed, ten riders got away: Nikias Arndt (Team Bahrain-Victorious), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Stan Dewulf (AG2R Citroën Team), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Daryl Impey (Israel-Premier Tech), Lluís Mas (Movistar), Luca Mozzato (Team Arkéa Samsic), Jhonathan Narváez (Ineos Grenadiers), Kristian Sbaragli (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Kevin Vermaerke (Team DSM).

Crans-Montana, the scene of Einer Rubio’s recent Giro d’Italia stage victory, put an end to the opening 80 kilometres of flat progress. Bahrain-Victorious rider Gino Mäder bridged the gap, joining the leaders halfway up the climb.

Dutch champion Eenkhoorn got the jump for points at the top of the first-category ascent. Calmejane, part of the escape yesterday, took second to move into the Mountains competition lead. It was the same one-two result on the third-category climb of Varenstrasse, 35km from the finish.

As the break’s lead headed north of two and a half minutes, Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates rider Jay Vine helped Trek-Segafredo with the tempo.

The climb to Dorben moved up in three steps; the first eight kilometres, averaging 7.8%, would prove the hardest and most decisive.

Lilian Calmejane attacked as the breakaway group disintegrated. Behind, AG2R-Citroën Team tried to get the jump on rivals. Mikaël Cherel accelerated with in-form leader Felix Gall in his wheel. Third-placed overall Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) started to lose ground.

Gall was on a special day, catching the four remaining escapees in a matter of kilometres. Only Narváez could briefly hold his wheel as his lead headed toward the minute mark.

That was due to a combination of Gall’s impressive climbing and a lack of cohesion behind. Race leader Skjelmose sat back and let Wilco Kelderman (Jumbo-Visma) and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) keep the pace high, followed by Romain Bardet (Team DSM), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny), Skejlmose and Bora-Hansgrohe duo Cian Uijtdebroeks and Max Schachmann. Remco Evenepoel struggled to stay on terms a couple of times.

As the speed and impetus dithered, Bardet shot out of the group at speed but was pegged back. As Bilbao pushed the pace, Evenepoel was distanced again and chased hard on the short descent to catch them.

The road rose again for a shorter second section of the climb. Showing his attacking spirit, Bardet hit the gas again and moved clear. With six kilometres to go, Kelderman joined him up the road.

Gall was in no danger of being caught, briefly extending his lead to 1-30. Behind, with Skjelmose unwilling to set the pace, it was a free-for-all, with accelerations from Schachmann, Bilbao and Astana Qazaqstan rider Harold Tejada.

World champion Evenepoel had refound his rhythm and set the pace to bring back Bardet, Kelderman and Bilbao over the top of the first-category climb at Höhenweg, four kilometres from the finish. The day belonged to Gall, who rode to solo glory.

Just over a minute behind, Evenepoel finished best of the rest, sprinting away powerfully at the 200-metre mark to finish a second ahead of Skjelmose. The superior bonus seconds for the winner meant the leader’s jersey moves onto Gall’s shoulders – apparently satisfying Skjelmose’s desires.

“I hoped he would take the leader’s jersey, with me losing a minimum amount and not being in it. And that was what happened, so the day was successful,” Skjelmose said afterwards.

Tomorrow sees the race’s queen stage, 211 kilometres between Fiesch and La Punt. There are over 4,000 metres of elevation gain, with the Furkapass and Oberalppass tackled inside the day’s opening third. The long, high-altitude Albulapass, topped 10km from the finish, will be pivotal.

“Albula tomorrow is much more important and can make a lot bigger difference than today. We wanted to lose the jersey to a guy I believe I can beat in the TT,” Skjelmose said. “Let’s see: Felix looks strong, but I still believe I have a better time trial.” In the race-opening 12km TT, the Dane was a minute faster than Gall.

Skjelmose is keeping a beady eye on Remco Evenepoel, who he regards as his main rival: “Remco is still up there, and even though he may be dropped sometimes, I know he’s a smart rider and also did some strong pulls today.”

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