Gino Mäder falls into a ravine.

Gino Mäder falls into a ravine.

26-year-old Canton Vaud native Gino Mäder fell today during the fifth stage of his home race, the Tour of Switzerland. In the 211-kilometer Fiesch-La Punt, the Bahrain Victorious rider ended up in a ravine on the descent of the Albula Pass, stopping, according to witnesses, ten meters below the roadway.

The Swiss rider was rushed to the hospital and his condition was reportedly serious. In the same spot had fallen shortly before, the U.S. rider Magnus Sheffield of Ineos Grenadiers, who fortunately climbed back into the saddle although he was unable to finish the stage due to a shoulder injury.

Mäder’s most important successes were stage 6 of the 2021 Giro d’Italia, the Grotte di Frasassi-Ascoli Piceno, and stage 8 of the Tour of Switzerland that same year, from Andermatt to Andermatt, and also two years ago he was the best young rider in the Vuelta a Espana, in which he finished fifth.