Muriel Furrer (18) dies after crash in women's junior road race at 2024 World Championships

Some heart-breaking news to bring you. 18-year-old Swiss junior Muriel Furrer has now tragically passed away following her crash on Thursday in the women's junior road race at 2024 World Championships in Zurich.

Furrer suffered serious head injuries after crashing on a slippery and rain covered descent in the junior road race and was taken to a nearby hospital in a very critical condition by an emergency helicopter. Just what exactly happened to leave Furrer hurt isn't totally clear, although, as more information comes to light, Blick are reporting that the 18-year-old was left laying in the forest by the roadside for "a long time" before any help eventually arrived on the scene.

"According to information from Blick, Furrer lay undiscovered in the forest next to the racing circuit for a long time after her fall," the report explains. "The latest information suggests that the U19 race continued in the pouring rain, while Furrer, out of sight of the accompanying motorcycles and cars that passed by again on the second lap, may have been lying seriously injured in the undergrowth."

Blick also spoke to a number of passers by at the roadside. One such individual came up with a striking comment too. "It's no surprise that something like this happened on this steep spot and in this rain," they say, perhaps alarming given that the response to Furrer took so long to get going.

"No rescue operation was observed around the forest area in question during the race. The rescue helicopter did not land in Küsnacht until around an hour after the end of the race," continues the Blick report. "In addition, a press motorcyclist said that he had not noticed anything about the serious fall during the U19 race. In other words, no rescue measures were visible."

From all associated with CyclingUpToDate.com, we send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Muriel Furrer and all who knew her.