18-year-old cyclist died on Friday (27) from injuries suffered during the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich (Switzerland)
The decision of the Copa Internacional de MTB, in Congonhas, Minas Gerais, stopped all activities this Sunday morning (29), just before the third heat of the day, the exclusive start for women. The organization, in honor of the young cyclist Muriel Furrer, from Switzerland, held a minute of silence in memory of the 18-year-old athlete, who died last Friday (27) as a result of a fall during the women’s road race in junior category of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich (Switzerland).
On Friday afternoon, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) released the news about the death of the young cyclist and lamented what happened. The international federation and organization of the competition offered their sincere condolences to Muriel Furrer’s Family, friends and the Swiss Cycling Federation. And also highlighted the request from Muriel Furrer’s family that their privacy be respected at this very painful time.
At 18 years old, Muriel Furrer was a talented multidisciplinary cycling athlete, ranked 12th in the world junior rankings in MTB. In addition to competing on the road, the Swiss also competed in mountain biking (as part of the BIXS Performance Race Team) and also in cyclocross. In her team’s social media post, Muriel was described as a “beacon of warmth and joy, always with a smile that could brighten the darkest days.”
Minute of silence in honor of Muriel Furrer (Image credit: Ney Evangelista/CiMTB)
“We at CiMTB offer our condolences to Muriel’s family, friends and team for the irreparable loss. Unfortunately, while cycling is a wonderful and passionate sport, everyone who cycles, whether at a professional or amateur level, is subject to suffering falls of the most different degrees of risk. It’s really very sad. Our hearts are broken at this moment”, commented Rogério Bernardes, organizer of the Cop Internacional.
The history of CiMTB
The CiMTB organization held its first race in 1996. Since then, it has been innovating and actively contributing to the growth and strengthening of mountain biking and the bicycle market in Brazil. Counting points for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) world ranking since 2004, CiMTB has been selective for the Olympic Games in the Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 cycles.
In 2022, CiMTB further increased its international relevance, with the opening stage of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Mountain Bike World Cup, in Petrópolis, and in 2024 it organized the Araxá stage of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Furthermore, he was responsible for building the mountain bike track for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, considered one of the best in the history of the Games since 1996, the first year of MTB at the Olympics.
More information:
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Press Officer
Gustavo Coelho
press@cimtb.com.br
