Gino Mäder was an extraordinary Swiss cyclist with a big heart and strong values. His sporting successes included a stage win at the 2021 Giro d’Italia, a 5th place overall finish at the Vuelta a España and winning the best young rider classification. He was considered one of Switzerland’s most promising stage race specialists.
But he was more than just an athlete. Through his initiative “Race for a Cause“ Gino donated one euro for every rider he finished ahead of in a stage during the 2022 Vuelta a España. By the end of the race, he had raised 4,500 euros, which were used for reforestation efforts in the Sahel region of Africa. In 2021, he raised around 15,000 Swiss francs in the same manner for the climate protection organization “Justdiggit“, proving that actions mattered more to him than words. He was deeply committed to environmental protection, fairness in sports and animal welfare.
On June 15, 2023, Mäder suffered a serious crash during the Tour de Suisse while descending from the Albula Pass. He passed away a day later from his injuries. Gino Mäder died at just 26 years old.
