2023-06-18 07:45:00
The field drives past fans who commemorate the Swiss Gino Mäder, who died yesterday following a fall. Bild: dpa
After the accidental death of Gino Mäder, the Tour de Suisse continues. The decision not to cancel the race is also the subject of internal controversy. The race director defends her.
Race director Olivier Senn can criticize the continuation of the Tour of Switzerland understand following the accidental death of Gino Mäder. The decision was also “controversially discussed” internally, reported Senn following the seventh stage on Saturday: “There were all opinions. That is also to be respected. Everyone deals with it differently.” In his opinion, however, there is no right or wrong decision in this situation. “We hope it’s the less fake one.”
The decision to continue the tour even following the death of the Swiss professional cyclist Mäder was made shortly before midnight on Friday and with the consent of the deceased’s family, said Senn. “They’re happy it’s going on and that it’s going to be like this. It would have been wrong for them to break off, and it would have been wrong for us too,” he explained following consulting Mäder’s relatives. It was “one of the most difficult decisions we had to make at the Tour de Suisse”.
The penultimate stage on Saturday between Tübach and Weinfelden was won by Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian cycling star later dedicated the success to Mäder: “Of course, this victory goes to Gino and his family. It was the best way to honor him and show respect to his family. It didn’t matter to me that I mightn’t gain any time. That was for Gino alone.”
The Swiss cycling team Tudor Pro Cycling, the Belgian cycling team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty and Mäders Team Bahrain-Victorious had previously canceled their participation in the tour. In addition, 17 drivers from other teams withdrew.
On Thursday, the 26-year-old Mäder fell into a ravine at high speed on the last kilometers of the fifth stage on the descent from the Albula Pass to the destination of La Punt and had to be resuscitated. A day later, the seriously injured Swiss died in hospital. It is not yet clear how the fall happened.
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The final time trial should be run normally on Sunday in St. Gallen. “Everyone can decide for themselves how they want to drive there, nothing will change there,” said race director Senn.
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