Bahrain Victorious team, others withdraw from Tour de Suisse after Gino Mäder death | CBC Sports

The Bahrain Victorious team of Swiss rider Gino Mäder, who died on Thursday after crashing into a ravine, have withdrawn from the remainder of the Tour de Suisse.

The team made the announcement on social media on Saturday, two days after Mäder’s death during the final descent on stage five of the eight-day race.

“Following the tragic loss of Gino Mäder, Team Bahrain Victorious has taken the decision to withdraw from Tour de Suisse,” the team said in a statement on Twitter.

The 26-year-old crashed on the road towards La Punt and fell into a ravine where he was found unresponsive by the race doctor and resuscitated before being air-lifted to hospital.

His death was confirmed later that evening by Bahrain Victorious.

The team participated in stage six on Friday, which was neutralized and held in honour of Mäder, with riders completing the shortened route together as a mark of respect.

“Following the tragic accident of Gino Mäder, and after discussing with our riders and staff, team Intermarche-Circus-Wanty has decided to withdraw from #TourdeSuisse,” the Belgian team wrote on Twitter.

“Our priority is to respect our riders’ wellbeing.”

“Under these difficult circumstances we feel it is the human way to respect the feelings of our riders and pay respect to Gino,” Tudor Pro Cycling wrote.