Italian rider reacts to Muriel Furrer’s death: "A rider like me was left in the cold and rain to die alone"

It has been one week since Swiss junior rider Muriel Furrer tragically passed away during her home World Championships in Zurich, and many questions about her death remain unanswered. The cycling world has been shaken by the loss of the young rider, with Italian rider Andrea Raccagi Noviero, a 20-year-old member of the Soudal Quick-Step development team, expressing his heartbreak and frustration on social media.

Raccagi Noviero's post reveals the emotional weight of the event and highlights his own feelings of guilt and the lack of attention surrounding the tragedy. “I wanted to make a nice post with some pictures of my experiences at the World Championships, but from the beginning I felt that that was not right. It has been a week now and, apart from a few articles, no one is talking about it anymore. There is only one thing for sure now: a rider like me was left in the cold and rain for more than an hour to die alone. And that during the most important race of the year,” he wrote.

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The Italian cyclist also voiced his concerns about rider safety, noting that the dangerous conditions during the event were widely known among participants. “Everyone knows what happened in Zurich. I can’t say anything about the accident itself, but I can talk about my experience. Everyone risked their lives on the same descent. It didn’t make sense to be there. Everyone knew that. The fact that some riders told the media wasn’t enough to get the message across. This is about more than cycling, a sport full of risks.”

Reflecting on Furrer's young age and the tragedy of her untimely death, Raccagi Noviero offered a heartfelt apology. “I want to apologise, Muriel. Because I also had the chance to make my voice heard, but I didn’t. The people at the controls apparently don’t care enough about our safety. The lives of the riders don’t matter that much. That’s why I share my condolences with Muriel’s family, but I have to apologize. And an apology to you is also in order, Muriel. At 18, you should be enjoying life right now.”

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Raccagi Noviero expressed his hopes that riders can come together to prevent such tragedies in the future. “That’s why I feel extra guilty that we as riders didn’t talk about dangerous situations before. I hope that we can avoid such situations in the future. My wish? That as many riders as possible share this message. That way we can all make the sport of our hearts a little safer. We still have to figure out exactly how, but it’s a start.”

Furrer’s passing continues to raise concerns about rider safety in competitive cycling, with Raccagi Noviero’s emotional plea resonating across the cycling community as a call for change.