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.
18-year-old Furrer fell heavily during the race in Zurich, suffering serious head injuries in the process. She was airlifted to Zurich University Hospital following the accident but died in hospital on Friday afternoon, the UCI later announced.
In a statement released on Friday morning, the UCI confirmed that the upcoming events at the Worlds, including the elite road races at the weekend, will go ahead as planned “in accordance with the wishes of the family of Muriel Furrer.”
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.”
Update: Muriel Furrer died on Friday afternoon. Her passing was announced by the UCI and the Zurich Worlds organising committee on Friday afternoon during the under-23 men’s road race.
“It is with great sadness that the 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,” read the 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 Junior Women 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.”
