The Tour de Suisse racer Gino Mader’s team withdrew from the competition after he passed away following a collision on stage five.
The decision was made, according to Team Bahrain Victorious, “following the tragic loss” of the 26-year-old.
Mader plummeted into a ravine after a high-speed collision with American Magnus Sheffield, 21, on Thursday as they descended the Albula Pass.
He was hospitalized in Chur by helicopter but died early on Friday.
Gino Mader, 26, passes away following a stage five crash.
The Tour de Suisse’s sixth stage was postponed on Friday, but the peloton nevertheless raced the final 20 km of the neutralized course in Mader’s honor.
Many riders who were wearing black armbands and were comforting one another before, during, and after the ride sent condolences to his mother.
The next two stages of the race would take place on Saturday and Sunday, according to the competition’s organizers, “after an emotional day and a very touching ride in memory” of Mader.
They claimed that after discussions with the Mader family, the participating teams and riders, and the full Tour de Suisse organization, a decision had been made.
Race director Olivier Senn issued the following statement later on Friday: “After consultation with all parties, we as the management stand united behind this decision and are attempting to hold the final two stages of the men’s race in an appropriate setting.”
Tudor Pro Cycling Team withdrew from the race on Saturday, joining Bahrain Victorious in doing so. The team tweeted: “The team decided not to continue racing this year’s Tour de Suisse after careful thought and discussion to both riders and personnel. In these trying times, we believe it is only human to respect Gino’s feelings as well as those of our passengers.
On Saturday, the women’s Tour de Suisse will also get underway as scheduled.
“The women and all the teams deserve a Tour de Suisse Women,” Senn continued. We are confident that we can provide a professional and secure race for the female racers.
Before turning professional on the road in 2019 and joining Team Bahrain Victorious two years later, Mader was a track cyclist.
He won the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2021, and at the Vuelta a Espana, he took first place in the young rider classification.
“Even though the focus is already back on the implementation of the coming days,” the Tour de Suisse stated in a statement. “The thoughts are with the family of Gino Mader.”
