Swiss junior Muriel Furrer died on Friday morning after crashing during the 2024 UCI road worlds, and while more information about the tragic crash continues to emerge, certain specifics surrounding the incident remain unclear.
What’s certain is that real-time access to athletes’ GPS trackers might have led to a quicker response to Furrer’s disappearance. However, Olivier Senn from the organizing committee stated that there are currently no requirements for such measures.
Details of Muriel Furrer’s death still being investigated
Zurich police gave some initial reports after beginning the investigation of the death of Furrer. Furrer sustained severe brain injuries and was airlifted to Zurich University Hospital, where she died the next day. Evidence, including her bike, has been secured for inspection.
It was confirmed that the crash occurred during a downhill segment in Küsnacht, with no indications of third-party involvement or witnesses. She was found unconscious off the route; however, the exact timing of the accident remains unclear—which is a major point of contention following the tragedy.
More pressure on UCI needed
In a press conference on Tuesday, Senn expressed hope for a thorough discussion on necessary changes in cycling. “There have been too many deaths. Ultimately, the world federation oversees the regulations. We have already informed the UCI that it is crucial for us to intensify this discussion, and we will put significant pressure on them. We deliver information to the authorities, and questions arise daily, but we are not actively inquiring about the status of the investigation.”
Senn maintains that the accident resulted from a series of unfortunate circumstances. He noted that the weather was not excessively poor, and the course section was deemed safe,” he said. “At this world championships, thousands of racers navigated that downhill stretch. There was only one fall—unfortunately, a very tragic one.”
Echos of Gino Mäder
Senn hopes that the investigation will conclude more swiftly than the lengthy inquiry that followed Gino Mäder’s fatal crash at the Tour de Suisse in 2023.
If the findings indicate that the organization bears some responsibility for the tragic fall, Senn stated,
“If the investigation shows that we are at fault, I will, of course, take responsibility for my area. But we need to first understand what actually happened.”
Pro cyclist Juan Ayuso has been vocal about the tragedy. On…
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