Event director Olivier Senn holds a minute of silence in honour of Gino Maeder from Switzerland of Bahrain-Victorious, who died following his crash the day earlier than, on the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour biking race, in Chur, Switzerland, on June 16, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the accidents he sustained when he plunged into a ravine throughout a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his group Bahrain-Victorious mentioned on June 16.
Maeder, 26, fell throughout a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on June 15, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.
He had been discovered “lifeless in the water” of a ravine beneath the street, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers mentioned.
But the following day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious mentioned in an announcement.
“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the group added.
“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.”
Maeder had loved a powerful begin to the season, ending fifth within the Paris-Nice race.
American rider Magnus Sheffield additionally fell on the identical descent from Albula, throughout probably the most troublesome stage of the race with a number of climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers mentioned.
On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the choice to compete on such a harmful street.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.
“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”
