Muriel Furrer Not Located for 82 Minutes After Fatal Crash
An investigation has determined that cyclist Muriel Furrer was not located for 82 minutes following a fatal crash during the 2024 junior road race in Zurich, Switzerland. Furrer, 18, died after leaving the road in wet conditions and crashing into a wooded area.
Cyclist Muriel Furrer was not located for 82 minutes following a fatal crash during the 2024 junior road race.
Investigation Findings
The Zurich Public Prosecutors' Office concluded that there was no evidence of criminal conduct or negligence by the event organizer. The accident occurred around 11:04 AM, out of sight of support vehicles, race officials, spectators, and marshals.
Furrer was hidden in undergrowth and not visible from the road. Her disappearance was not automatically reported. She was discovered at 12:26 PM.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after Furrer was found, providing initial medical care. She was subsequently airlifted to a hospital and died from a head injury. The investigation found no criminally relevant breaches of duty regarding the rescue operation or subsequent medical care.
Race Protocols and Changes
At the time of the incident, live tracking of riders and radio communication were not permitted in the World Championships, though these technologies are used in other races such as the Tour de France.
The world governing body, the UCI, subsequently introduced GPS trackers for the 2025 World Championships in Rwanda to ensure rider locations are known at all times. The Cyclists' Union (CPA) has stated that such solutions should have been implemented earlier.
Related Information
The UCI retired Furrer's race number, 84, from women's junior road races. The findings of this investigation follow a recent incident where cyclist Tom Pidcock crashed into a ravine at the Volta a Catalunya, unseen by cameras or organizers. Pidcock was able to use his radio to alert his team.