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CYCLING

Norwegian cyclist wins Arctic Race

Thor Hushovd powered to victory in the fourth and final stage of the Arctic Race of Norway on Sunday afternoon, making the Norwegian the overall winner in the event's inaugural race.

Published: 12 August 2013 11:38 CEST
Norwegian cyclist wins Arctic Race
Hushovd (BMC Racing, in red suit) during the fourth and final leg of the race Arctic Race of Norway - Vegard Grøtt / NTB Scanpix
 
The 35-year-old beat Germany's Paul Martens in the 155 km stage between Sortland and Harstad in northern Norway. 
 
"It's Fantastic! I came here with two goals: to win one stage and to win overall, and I did both today," Hushovd told Norway's TV 2 at the finishing line. "It was hard, but it was insanely fun to win." 
 
The race, which took place for the first time this year, was organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation, which also organises the Tour de France. 
 
Hushovd, arguably Norway's greatest ever cyclist, was in 2010 the first Norwegian to win a stage in the Tour de France. 
 

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CYCLING

Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine during a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his team Bahrain-Victorious said on Friday.

Published: 16 June 2023 12:54 CEST
Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Maeder, 26, fell during a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on Thursday, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.

He had been found “lifeless in the water” of a ravine below the road, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers said.

But the next day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious said in a statement.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” his team wrote in a statement.

“On Friday June 16th, following a very serious fall during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his fight to recover from the serious injuries he had suffered. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”

“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 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the team said in a statement.

Maeder had enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing fifth in the Paris-Nice race.

American rider Magnus Sheffield also fell on the same descent from Albula, during the most difficult stage of the race with multiple climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers said.

On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the decision to compete on such a dangerous road.

“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.

“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”

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