Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer died from injuries suffered in a crash during the junior women's road race at the world championships in Zurich, the UCI said Friday. She was 18.
Furrer fell heavily Thursday when she crashed in a forest area south of Zurich. She was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter with serious head injuries and had been in critical condition.
"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," the UCI 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 UCI offered "sincere condolences to Muriel Furrer's family, friends and her Federation Swiss Cycling."
The cycling world mourns the loss of Muriel Furrer.
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 27, 2024
It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to this young rider, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to all her family, friends, and teammates.
Rest in peace. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YEtEldhd59
The UCI said Thursday there were no "established facts" as to how the accident occurred. Heavy rain in Zurich meant the men's and women's junior road events were raced on slick roads at the nine-day worlds meeting.
At a news conference Friday, a director of the Swiss organizing committee, Olivier Senn, said no official information could yet be given to confirm exactly where the crash happened.
Police and the public prosecutor's office are investigating, Senn said.
"We have lost a promising young athlete with the full life ahead of her, which is very hard to take," he said. "We cannot imagine how it must feel for the family and friends."
Before Furrer's death was announced, the UCI said the world championships would continue.
"The continuation of the event is taking place with the agreement and in accordance with the wishes of the family of Muriel Furrer," the UCI said in a statement. "The family would like the 2024 UCI Road World Championships to continue as planned."
The women's and men's elite races scheduled Saturday and Sunday, respectively, will use the same stretch of road where the fatal crash happened.
"The downhill was looked at again just today," Senn said. "We have slightly amended the staff on site. We believe we always do the maximum on the safety and security of the riders."
Furrer finished 44th in the junior women's time trial earlier in the week.
"Our hearts are broken, we have no words," Swiss Cycling said in a statement.
President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd also offered her condolences on X.
"I am shocked by the death of the young U-19 rider Muriel Furrer after her accident at the Cycling World Championships in Zurich," she said. "I offer my sincere condolences to her family. My thoughts are with the entire cycling family."
Furrer is the second Swiss cyclist to have died crashing on home roads in the past two seasons. Gino Mäder suffered a fatal crash at the Tour de Suisse in June 2023. The 26-year-old rider went off the road and crashed down a ravine during a descent and died from his injuries the next day.
"Obviously it is another tragic death," Senn said. "There is a lot of similarities, similar feelings. Today is about Muriel."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.