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An 18-year-old Swiss rider is in “very critical condition” with a head injury following a crash in Thursday’s women’s junior road race at the Zürich road world championships.

The UCI confirmed that Muriel Furrer crashed during the women’s junior road race, but did not reveal the circumstances of the incident.

Officials confirmed that Furrer was airlifted to a local hospital by an emergency helicopter, and “suffered a serious head injury and is in a very critical condition,” a press note stated.

No more details were immediately available.

Furrer was runner-up in both the Swiss national junior time trial and road races this summer, and finished 44th in the junior women’s time trial Tuesday.

Full statement from the UCI

Swiss rider Muriel Furrer fell heavily today, Thursday 26 September, during the Women Junior road race at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich (Switzerland) for reasons still to be determined. Muriel Furrer was taken to hospital by an emergency helicopter. She suffered a serious head injury and is in a very critical condition.

Extremely concerned by the situation, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Swiss Cycling and the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee are closely monitoring developments and will communicate as soon as possible.

At present, there are no established facts regarding how the accident happened. Investigations by the competent authorities are ongoing. For this reason, no further information can be given until further notice.