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CYCLING

Spanish cyclist dies from crash near Vuelta finale

A 29-year-old Spanish woman has died after crashing into a wall on her bike near the finish line of the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday.

Published: 9 September 2017 22:42 CEST
Spanish cyclist dies from crash near Vuelta finale
The accident took place around midday local time just a few hours before Tour de France champion Chris Froome all but sealed the overall race victory. PHOTO: JOSE JORDAN / AFP
The 20th stage of the three-week race around Spain took place in poor weather conditions with rain and fog affecting the climb to Alto de l'Angliru in the north-western region of Asturias.
 
“The young cyclist… died as a consequence of severe injuries suffered after losing control of her bike and colliding with a wall,” the Asturian centre of emergency coordination said in a statement. “It appears the accident took place after the brakes failed.”
 
The accident took place around midday local time just a few hours before Tour de France champion Chris Froome all but sealed the overall race victory.
 
The victim was transferred by helicopter to a hospital in the city of Oviedo, where she passed away.

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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