After the accidental death of Gino Mäder, the Tour de Suisse continues. The decision not to cancel the race also met with internal criticism. The race director still defends her.
Race director Olivier Senn can understand criticism of the continuation of the Tour de Suisse after the accidental death of Gino Mäder. The decision was also “controversially discussed” internally, Senn reported after the seventh stage: “There were all opinions. That is to be respected. Everyone deals with it differently.” In his opinion, there is no right or wrong decision in this situation. “We hope it’s the less wrong one.”
The decision to continue the tour even after the death of the Swiss professional cyclist Mäder was made shortly before midnight on Friday and with the consent of the deceased’s family, said Senn. “They are happy that it’s going on and that it’s going to continue like this. It would have been wrong for them to cancel, and it would have been wrong for us too,” he said after consulting Mäder’s relatives. It was “one of the most difficult decisions we had to make at the Tour de Suisse”.
Evenepoel dedicates stage win to Mäder
The penultimate stage on Saturday between Tübach and Weinfelden was won by Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian cycling star dedicated the success afterwards to Mäder: “Of course, this victory goes to Gino and his family. That was the best way to honor him and show respect to his family It didn’t matter to me that I couldn’t buy any time. That was for Gino alone.”
The Swiss cycling team Tudor Pro Cycling, the Belgian cycling team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty and Mäders Team Bahrain-Victorious had previously canceled their participation in the tour. In addition, 17 drivers from other teams withdrew.
On Thursday, the 26-year-old Mäder fell into a ravine at high speed on the last kilometers of the fifth stage on the descent from the Albula Pass to the destination of La Punt and had to be resuscitated. A day later, the seriously injured Swiss died in hospital.
The final time trial should be run normally on Sunday in St. Gallen. “Everyone can decide for themselves how they want to drive there, nothing will change there,” said race director Senn.
Source: Stern
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