'I feel incredibly lucky to be alive' – Sheffield opens up on fatal Mader crash

Magnus Sheffield has spoken for the first time about the fatal crash which led to the death of Gino Mader.

The incident happened at the Tour de Suisse in June last year.

Sheffield had a high-speed accident on the same part of the course, leading to a three-month injury absence after being left heavily concussed.

“I remember just about everything of the day,” he wrote. “From waking up in my bed in the morning of the stage, up until I came around after being wheeled from the operating room in the hospital.

“As a result of the crash, I was heavily concussed and experienced a window of what felt like unconsciousness.

“At that moment when I sat on the mountain side, there were helicopters flying above ringing in my ears, while I looked out on one of the most beautiful landscapes, as I saw riders and the race convoy passing down the Albula Pass.

“I was confused seeing medical staff around a rider that I could only recognise the team jersey of at the time, because I knew that I had crashed alone.

“Later on, after being transported from the scene, I was told Gino had been taken to a nearby hospital.

“Unfortunately, I had only raced with Gino a few times in our careers. I’ve been told he was an incredible person, and my thoughts remain with his family and friends.

“The crash reminded me of how fragile life can be. I feel incredibly lucky to be alive, to be able to walk, and even more fortunate to continue racing professionally.”

Sheffield missed three months of action following the accident.

The 22-year-old has just got his 2024 campaign underway by making his season debut at this week’s Volta ao Algarve, securing a place on the podium as Best Young Rider for stage 1.

He has plans to race at Strade Bianche and Tirreno–Adriatico in Italy in the coming weeks, before taking on the Classics and Olympic Games.

But he admits the journey to getting back in the saddle was filled with doubts.

“This season, or even at the start of the Tour of Britain in 2023 when I came back, I felt I had begun a new chapter in my career and in life,” he added.

“Many people questioned if I would continue: how did the crash and what followed affect me? Would I still want to race or ride a bike? Would I still be the same rider?

“I took time with family and friends back home the weeks after I returned to the USA. I did not know exactly when I would return to Europe.

“The team was very supportive with giving me the time my body needed before beginning training again. I am incredibly grateful for the support of my parents through that time.

“When you are so focused on something it is easy to lose touch with everything else that is going on around the world. It was the longest period I’ve spent in one place since elementary school.

“However, I struggled when my dad turned on NBC to watch the finish of a Tour stage because I felt I was meant to be there.”