Jumbo-Visma pay lengthy tribute to Gino Mäder: "We remember him as a good and friendly rider"

As the peloton and the wider cycling world still tries to come to terms with the tragic passing of Bahrain - Victorious rider Gino Mäder, Jumbo-Visma posted a lengthy tribute to their official website.

Jan Tratnik, Wout van Aert, Primoz Roglic and general manager Richard Plugge all reflected on the heartbreaking loss and recounted some of their own personal experiences of Mäder. “We raced together a lot and were often roommates. I will never forget that he won the white youth jersey in the Vuelta in 2021," recalls Tratnik who was a teammate of Mäder's just last year. "Gino was a helpful and hard working boy. He was a super nice, calm guy and a real professional. When we first met he was a bit shy, but after that we became real friends. Gino stood for his principles and with that he was often an inspiration to me. It's unbelievable that he's gone. I will miss him and I will remember him forever in my heart."

Whilst both Wout van Aert and Primoz Roglic didn't share the same close, personal bond with Mäder as Tratnik did, the Jumbo-Visma pair will remember the 26-year-old Swiss fondly. “It is unbelievable and indescribable. It is true that I have no personal memories of him, but he has really worked his way up as a driver in recent years," says van Aert. "It is very difficult to accept that a rider from the peloton dies. Moreover, it is unreal, because it also makes you realize that it can happen to anyone. Yesterday we started together and nothing was wrong.”

"It was very double this morning, because the seriousness of the situation only really dawned on me on Thursday evening. When I passed the accident, all I saw was the doctor's car. Then you go to sleep with that and you don't hear anything on Friday morning," continues the Belgian. "We hoped no news is good news, but when the start was postponed, we already knew what time it was. Then your thoughts go back to other moments.”

"What should I say? He was a very friendly guy. I can only wish his family, friends and loved ones a lot of strength and strength. Rest in peace Gino,” adds Primoz Roglic with Plugge also paying tribute. “We are deeply shocked by Gino's passing. It touches us all deeply. We remember him as a good and friendly rider. We wish his family, friends and team all the strength in this dark time.”