Cyclist Gino Mäder airlifted after crashing down a ravine on fast descent at Tour de Suisse
Cyclist Gino Mäder airlifted after crashing down a ravine on fast descent at Tour de Suisse
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Juan Ayuso from Spain of UAE Team Emirates celebrates crossing the finish line as the winner of the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Juan Ayuso from Spain climbs the Albula Pass during the fifth stage, of the Tour of Switzerland cycling race, from Fiesch to La Punt, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
The pack climbs the Furka pass during the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Juan Ayuso from Spain of UAE Team Emirates celebrates crossing the finish line as the winner of the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Juan Ayuso from Spain of UAE Team Emirates celebrates crossing the finish line as the winner of the fifth stage, a 211 km race from Fiesch to La Punt, of the 86th Tour de Suisse UCI World Tour cycling race in Goms, Switzerland, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Juan Ayuso from Spain climbs the Albula Pass during the fifth stage, of the Tour of Switzerland cycling race, from Fiesch to La Punt, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Juan Ayuso from Spain climbs the Albula Pass during the fifth stage, of the Tour of Switzerland cycling race, from Fiesch to La Punt, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder was airlifted to the hospital after being found unconscious after he crashed down a ravine at his home Tour de Suisse race on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Mäder and another rider, Magnus Sheffield of the United States, went off the road near the same spot on a fast descent approaching the end of the mountainous fifth stage into La Punt.
“Gino Mäder lay motionless in the water,” race organizers said in a statement. “He was immediately resuscitated and transported to Chur hospital by air ambulance.”
Organizers said they clarifying how the accident happened.
Mäder’s team, Bahrain-Victorious, said he was “unresponsive, resuscitated at the scene and then transported by helicopter. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gino.”
The stage route was criticized by world champion Remco Evenepoel, who finished 10th on Thursday and is fourth overall in the eight-day race.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” Evenepoel wrote on his Twitter account. “As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”
Sheffield sustained a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital, organizers said.
Mäder placed fifth in the Spanish Vuelta in 2021 and also was fifth in the Paris-Nice stage race in March.
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