Gino Mäder, an accomplished young cyclist on Team Bahrain Victorious, has died from injuries sustained during a crash on Thursday, June 15. The crash occurred during a descent on the second-to-last stage of the Tour de Suisse. Twenty-one-year-old American rider Magnus Sheffield was also involved.
The Guardian reported that Mäder crashed into a ravine while descending Albula Pass toward the stage finish in La Punt. Medical staff found the cyclist unresponsive, but resuscitated him before transporting him to a hospital in the nearby city of Chur, according to CNN. Despite efforts, he died at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 16.
The Immediate Aftermath
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” a Team Bahrain Victorious agent wrote in a statement. “Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones.”
“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur Hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30 a.m., we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the statement continued.
Bahrain Victorious’s managing director Milan Erzen added, “We are devastated by the loss of our exceptional cyclist, Gino Mäder. His talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all. Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, but a great person off the bike. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Bahrain Victorious will race in his honor, keeping his memory on every road we race. We are determined to show the spirit and passion Gino displayed, and he will always remain an integral part of our team.”
Magnus Sheffield, a rider for Ineos Grenadiers, suffered a concussion and soft tissue damage, the team announced in a statement on Twitter.
Tour de Suisse organizers canceled stage six of the event in response to the incident. Officials opted instead to have six Team Bahrain Victorious riders cross the finish line in formation. The rest of the peloton followed shortly behind, The Guardian noted.
A Rider’s Environmental Legacy
Mäder was, according to the Team Bahrain Victorious statement, a bright and passionate presence on the circuit. Escape Collective’s retrospective on Mäder’s career noted the cyclist donated €7,688 for climate-change-related causes over the last 2 years. Mäder contributed one Euro for each rider that finished behind him in the circuit over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Deaths while racing are rare in the professional cycling world. For example, only four riders have died during the Tour de France’s over 100-year history.
