Bahrain Victorious rider Gino Mäder needed to be resuscitated on Thursday after crashing into a ravine at the Tour de Suisse.
The 26-year-old went off the roadside with Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) on the descent of the Albula Pass in the final kilometres of stage five. The duo were treated by paramedics at the scene, where Mäder was found unresponsive.
He was then airlifted by helicopter to Chur hospital.
A statement from the Tour de Suisse organisers read: “At race kilometre 197 in the descent from the Albula Pass, two riders crashed at very high speed. The race doctor was on the scene of the accident within two minutes.
“Magnus Sheffield was responsive. He was transported to Samedan hospital with bruises and a concussion.
“Gino Mäder lay motionless in the water. He was immediately resuscitated and then transported to Chur hospital by air ambulance. The severity of his injuries has not yet been fully clarified.”
Mäder underwent hospital examinations on Thursday evening, however further news of his condition is yet to be released. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Gino,” the rider’s Bahrain Victorious team wrote in a statement.
The race organiser added that they are also investigating the circumstances of the crash.
In a short thread on Twitter, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the finale of stage five, which concluded with a steep downhill.
Evenepoel wrote: “I hope that the final of today’s stage is food for thought for both cycling organisers as well as ourselves as riders.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent. As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain. My thoughts and strength is with Gino Mäder and Magnus Sheffield.”
A statement from Ineos Grenadiers revealed that Sheffield sustained a concussion and soft tissue damage. Both the American and Mäder have abandoned the race.
For safety reasons, Friday’s sixth stage has been shortened. The route was scheduled to start by going over the Albula Pass, but following a rock avalanche, will instead begin in Chur at 12:30 CET (13:30 BST). The stage was meant to be the longest of the race, at 215.3km. It will now total just 140.9km.
