Aged 26, the Bahrain Victorious rider had fallen very heavily in the descent of the Albula pass on Thursday, and had been resuscitated on the spot.
Gino Mäder did not survive his terrible fall, which occurred Thursday June 15 on the Tour of Switzerland, at high speed, in the descent of the Albula pass. Found inert in the water below the road, then resuscitated by the doctors on site, the 26-year-old Bahrain Victorious rider was transported by helicopter to the hospital, where he died on Friday morning at 11:30 a.m., announced his team, Friday, June 16. “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce the death of Gino Mäder”wrote his training in a press release [en anglais].
Best young rider in the Tour of Spain 2021 and winner of a stage in the Tour of Italy the same year, second in the Tour de Romandie in 2022 and fifth in Paris-Nice at the start of 2023, Gino Mäder was a rider from from a family of cyclists. “Gino was an extraordinary athlete, an example of determination, a valued member of our team and of the entire cycling community. His talent, his dedication and his passion for the sport inspired us all”, writes his team. He had started his professional career in 2019, at Dimenson-Data, which became NTT Pro Cycling, before joining the Bahrain team in 2021. A climber, he was also a good rider, he who had spent time on the track, notably with a title vice-world junior pursuit champion in 2015.
“Not just an exceptional runner, but also a great person”
“We are devastated by the loss of our exceptional rider, Gino Mäder. He was not only an extremely talented rider, but also a great person off the bike. Bahrain Victorious will race in his honor, in his memory, at all races in which we will participate”, added his general manager, Milan Erzen. The Swiss was not the only one to fall there, since Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers) was also the victim and suffered a concussion and injuries.
The drama took place during the disputed stage between Fiesch and La Punt, in the descent of the Albula pass, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents beyond 2,000 m altitude and 4,710 m of elevation gain. .
After the stage on Thursday, several riders, including world champion Remco Evenepoel, had asked the organizers for more caution in the construction of the courses. “I hope the final of today’s stage will give food for thought both to the organizers and to us, as riders. While a finish at the top was possible, it was not a good decision. to let us finish this dangerous descent. As runners, we also have to think about the risks we take when descending a mountain“, wrote the Belgian on Twitter. The Belgian world champion did not think, then, that this descent would cause the death of Gino Mäder. The organizers of the Tour de Suisse decided, a few minutes after the announcement of his death, that the stage of the day was neutralized. The peloton will ride the last 30 kilometers to form a procession in his homage.