After fatal cycling drama involving great talent (†18): Now new details come to light

Zurich (Switzerland) - Her tragic and untimely death shook the cycling world. Now new details have emerged about the accident involving the young Swiss racing cyclist Muriel Furrer (†18).

Muriel Furrer (†18) died of her serious injuries last Saturday. Among other things, she had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
Muriel Furrer (†18) died of her serious injuries last Saturday. Among other things, she had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.  © IMAGO / frontalvision.com

The great talent succumbed to her serious injuries on Saturday, which she suffered in a crash during the junior road cycling world championships in Zurich.

Initially it was said that no one had noticed the fall, which is why the athlete lay unrecognized in a wooded area for almost two hours with her serious injuries. Officials had not noticed that the 18-year-old was no longer in the field of riders, nor was anyone supposed to have seen the accident.

However, research by the Swiss newspaper"Blick" has now revealed something else. Furrer was not riding down the descent alone before her fall, but was in a group. Two riders were riding behind her, Furrer in front.

The newspaper contacted the associations of the two athletes concerned, and the coaches confirmed after consulting the riders themselves that they had tackled the descent above Küsnacht together with the victim.

People come to the memorial site and mourn the untimely death.
ContentImage.Description   © Michael Buholzer/KEYSTONE/dpa
At the family's request, the World Championships continued on the anniversary of her death, here the Swiss team mourns the loss of their member.
ContentImage.Description   © IMAGO / Photo News

The conditions on the day of the fatal fall were extremely difficult

After his death, people erected a memorial in the center of Zurich.
After his death, people erected a memorial in the center of Zurich.  © Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

One of the U19 athletes was riding further away down the mountain, but the other was directly behind Muriel Furrer.

While the athlete further away did not notice the accident, the young woman riding directly behind Furrer noticed that the 18-year-old had left the track.

An association spokesperson told Blick: "She couldn't see the accident itself, partly because of the high speed and the rough conditions."

It had rained heavily on the day of the race and Furrer crashed in a left-hand bend to the right into the forest. The federation confirmed that due to the high speeds and the left-facing eyes in the bend, the athlete had not been able to recognize that Furrer had fallen and remained lying in the forest.

For the protection of the families and the riders themselves, the names of the athletes were not mentioned, but they are known to the public prosecutor's office.