20-year-old Italian rider Andrea Raccagni Noviero has shared an emotional apology to the family of Muriel Furrer following her tragic death at the World Championships in Zurich. Furrer, an 18-year-old Swiss junior rider, suffered a fatal head injury after crashing during the junior women’s road race on September 26. Her death has sent shockwaves through the cycling community, prompting Raccagni Noviero to call for greater safety measures in the sport.

Raccagni Noviero, a rising talent in cycling and current under-23 Italian time trial champion, posted his heartfelt message on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow for Furrer’s family and urging his fellow riders to speak out for better protection. “I am devastated by this tragedy and want to apologize to Muriel’s family. We must do more to protect each other out on the road,” Raccagni Noviero wrote.

His message has resonated with the cycling world, with support pouring in from riders like Luke Plapp of Australia, Letizia Borghesi, Ariann Fidanza, Rachel Neylan, and his Soudal-QuickStep team. The young Italian will officially join Soudal-QuickStep’s WorldTour team next week, following two standout seasons with their development squad.

Furrer’s fatal crash remains under investigation by Swiss police, with the UCI and local authorities withholding specific details. Reports suggest she crashed near Küsnacht, about 30km from the finish, but it is unclear why she was not immediately discovered. Swiss Air-Rescue’s first helicopter mission in the area occurred over an hour after the race’s conclusion, further raising concerns about the response time.

As the cycling community mourns the loss of a promising young athlete, Raccagni Noviero’s plea for change highlights the urgent need for safety reforms. “We cannot let this happen again,” he said, echoing the sentiments of many who have been impacted by the tragic incident.