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.
Furrer, who was part of Swiss development team BIXS Performance, had finished 44th in the women’s junior time trial held earlier this week. The road race took place in wet conditions after a torrential downpour on Thursday.
An investigation into the accident has begun.
Swiss Cycling posted: “Our hearts are broken, we have no words. 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.
The president of Switzerland, Viola Amherd tweeted: “I am shocked by the death of the young U-19 rider Muriel Furrer after her accident at the Cycling World Championships in Zurich. I offer my sincere condolences to her family. My thoughts are with the entire cycling family.”
Tributes were paid across the cycling community.
“The world of cycling lost a rider with a bright future,” Team Visma–Lease a Bike posted on Furrer’s Instagram page. “Our thoughts are with all the family and friends of Muriel. Rest in peace, dear Muriel.”
Furrer’s death comes less than 18 months after another Swiss cyclist, Gino Mader, fatally crashed at the Tour de Suisse.
The Accident
Furrer came off the road during the women’s junior road race on Thursday. Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, said the 18-year-old was immediately airlifted to hospital by emergency helicopter, where she died from a severe head injury.
“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,” it said in a 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 Women Junior 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.
“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.”
Heavy rain fell on the peloton during Thursday’s race, in which Cat Ferguson took the victory.
Investigation
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.”
The UCI has announced that the 2024 Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will continue despite the serious accident suffered by Swiss racer Muriel Furrer in the junior women's road race on Thursday. The governing body, Switzerland's cycling federation and the local organising committee have both agreed on this course of action, with the Worlds continuing with the men's C1 and C2, men's T1-2 and women's T1-2 para-cycling events and the U23 men's road race later on Friday.
“The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, will continue according to the race programme. The UCI, Swiss Cycling and the Local Organising Committee Zurich 2024 have agreed on this approach,” read a statement issued by the UCI.
“The continuation of the event is taking place with the agreement and in accordance with the wishes of the family of Muriel Furrer. The family would like the 2024 UCI Road World Championships to continue as planned.”
A Bright Future
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.
Muriel Furrer's legacy
The passing of Muriel Furrer has sent shockwaves through the cycling community. She was a talented young rider with a bright future ahead of her. Her death is a tragedy, and it is a reminder of the risks involved in cycling. The thoughts of everyone at Escape Collective are with Furrer’s family and friends at this difficult time.
