Ayuso speaks harshly about UCI after death of Muriel Furrer: "This is truly a disgrace"

What was supposed to be a grand cycling celebration for Muriel Furrer turned into an absolute tragedy for the 18-year-old Swiss rider. She crashed hard on Thursday in a wet corner during a descent and passed away a day later in the hospital from her injuries. The cycling world mourned, and Switzerland, after the loss of Gino Mäder a year earlier, lost another rider. Juan Ayuso made the same connection, as the UAE Team Emirates rider reacted to the tragedy on Cadena SER.

"I shed some tears when I heard about it," the 22-year-old Spaniard admitted. This was partly due to the death of Gino Mäder. The Swiss rider died last year after a crash during the descent of stage five in the Tour de Suisse. "It reminded me of Gino Mäder because his passing deeply affected me. It was during a stage I won in Switzerland, and I only heard about it later. I remember how hard it hit me because he was very close to me. Now I can only imagine what his teammates must have gone through," recalled an emotional Ayuso.

Regarding Furrer’s death, the young UAE Team Emirates rider was extremely critical. "It seems the young woman had to wait for an hour for medical treatment. I find that disgraceful, and I believe that's something that should never happen." Ayuso primarily directed his criticism at the UCI, which does not allow radio communication during the World Championships. He believes this played a role in the delayed treatment of Furrer. "I don’t understand how we don’t have earpiece communication at a World Championships. That little thing could save a life. There are so many questions."

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Both UCI and Swiss police still have many unanswered questions

The investigation into Furrer's death is still ongoing. UCI President David Lappartient responded to the statements two days after the accident during a press conference. The Frenchman could not yet comment on the role of communication in the incident. "The police are working hard to map out the circumstances of the crash, so we can’t draw conclusions at this point. That’s why I don’t want this crash to be used as an example for such conclusions; it’s really too early for that. We must wait for the police investigation."

On Monday afternoon, the Swiss police in Zürich also provided an update. "Specialists from the Zürich Cantonal Police and the Forensic Institute of Zürich conducted the necessary forensic investigation immediately after the rescue," the statement read. However, much about the accident remains unclear. "The investigation into the accident is ongoing and not yet completed. According to current research, there were no witnesses to the crash. There are currently no television footage or other recordings available. No witnesses have come forward."

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