Gino Mader: A Brief Biography
Gino Mader, a talented Swiss cyclist, competed in both road and track events. He was associated with UCI WorldTeam Team Bahrain Victorious before his unfortunate demise in a tragic accident during the 2023 Tour de Suisse. Mader had a passion for football from an early age, starting at five and later pursuing an apprenticeship at the Swiss Olympics. Prior to his professional road cycling career, he excelled in track cycling and even participated in the team pursuit event at the 2016 UEC European Track Championships. Mader formed strong bonds with fellow cyclists, including Patrick Muller, with whom he had been cycling since they were around 10 years old. Representing UCI WorldTeam Team Bahrain Victorious throughout his career, Mader left a lasting impact on the world of cycling. His growing reputation in the sport was highlighted when he was chosen to participate in the prestigious 2020 Vuelta a Espana. During the race, he displayed his strength and determination by joining the breakaway group and came very close to securing a victory. Although he was ultimately caught and outsprinted by Primoz Roglic in the final moments, Mader's remarkable performance earned him the combativity award for the day. Sadly, on June 16, 2023, at the age of 26, we lost this versatile icon.
Gino Mäder dies after Tour de Suisse crash
On June 15, 2023, during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Mader suffered a fall while descending from the highest point of the stage at Albula Pass. Interestingly, American cyclist Magnus Sheffield had fallen at nearly the same location just a few minutes prior. Mader was discovered unconscious and submerged in water. Immediate resuscitation measures were taken, and he was subsequently airlifted by a Rega helicopter to a hospital in Chur. Unfortunately, Mader succumbed to his injuries the following day. As a result, stage six of the Tour de Suisse was canceled, but the peloton chose to honor Mader's memory with a "Gino Memorial Ride" covering a distance of 20 km from Turlersee to Oberwil-Lieli.
Following these tragic events, Team Bahrain Victorious, as well as the Intermarche-Circus-Wanty and Tudor Pro Cycling teams, decided to withdraw from the Tour during the next stage of competitive racing on June 17, 2023. Additionally, Swiss cyclists Stefan Küng, Marc Hirschi, Mauro Schmid, and Michael Schar also made the difficult decision to quit the race. Remco Evenepoel, who emerged as the winner of the seventh stage to Weinfelden, dedicated his victory to Gino Mader, paying tribute to the fallen cyclist.
Early Life
Gino Mader, born on January 4, 1997, in Flawil, Switzerland, was a Swiss national. He identified as Swiss-white in terms of ethnicity and followed the Christian religion. His race was categorized as white. In 2023, he celebrated his last 26th birthday, being born under the zodiac sign of Capricorn. However, he had shared any information regarding his family members or academic qualifications.
Cycling Career
Gino Mader's journey in the world of sports began at a young age when he started playing football at the age of five. As he grew older, he pursued an apprenticeship at the Swiss Olympics, further nurturing his athletic abilities. Before transitioning to professional road cycling, he excelled as a track cyclist, showcasing his skills at the 2016 UEC European Track Championships, particularly in the team pursuit event. In 2018, he achieved notable victories, claiming two stages in the Tour de l'Avenir, as well as securing wins in the Tour Alsace and the Ronde de l'Isard, all taking place in France.
His talent and dedication were evident when he finished fourth in the U-23 race of the 2018 UCI World Championships held in Innsbruck, Austria, with his compatriot and Swiss teammate Marc Hirschi emerging as the race winner. Mader attributed Hirschi's success to the collective efforts of their team. Building strong connections throughout his cycling career, he had been cycling alongside some of his teammates since their U-15 days, including Patrick Muller, with whom he had been riding since they were approximately 10 years old.
Professional Career
- Gino Mader made the leap to become a full-time professional cyclist in 2019, joining UCI WorldTeam Team Dimension Data. His talent and potential were recognized when he was included in the start list for the prestigious 2020 Vuelta a Espana in October 2020. Throughout the race, he showcased his abilities, securing a commendable second place in the penultimate stage, with David Gaudu claiming the victory. In the final standings, Mader finished 20th. In early 2021, he made a transition to Bahrain Victorious.
- During the seventh stage of the 2021 Paris-Nice, Mader demonstrated his strength by participating in a breakaway and coming close to winning the stage. Unfortunately, he was caught and outsprinted by Primoz Roglic in the final 50 meters. Nevertheless, his impressive performance earned him the combativity award for the day. In the 2021 Giro d'Italia, he played a supporting role as an assistant to Mikel Landa, who had to withdraw due to injury during stage 5. The following day, Mader triumphed on the stage, dedicating his victory to the injured Landa. However, he was forced to abandon the Giro later on due to an injury to his left arm.
- Continuing his cycling journey, he participated in the 2021 Vuelta a Espana. Although he initially faced a time deficit in the first eight stages, he began to excel starting from stage nine, finishing seventh in the challenging mountain stage to Alto de Velefique. Throughout the rest of the race, he continued to deliver strong performances while supporting Jack Haig as a domestique. On stage 17, reaching the summit of Lagos de Covadonga, Mader finished alongside the leading group, just a minute and a half behind the race leader, Primoz Roglic, which propelled him into the top ten in the general classification.
- The following day, in the queen stage to Altu d'El Gamoniteiru, Haig and Mader finished fifth and seventh, respectively, consolidating their positions in the overall standings. On the penultimate stage, Mader, Haig, Roglic, Enric Mas, and Adam Yates formed a five-man group that broke away from the main contenders, extending their advantage and allowing Mader to climb into the top five overall and take the lead in the young rider classification, surpassing Egan Bernal. Mader maintained his position during the final daytime trial, securing a fifth-place finish in the Vuelta and confirming his victory in the young rider classification.
Awards and Achievements
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
- 1 individual stage (2021)
Vuelta a Espana
- Young rider classification (2021)
How much was Gino Mader's Net Worth?
Gino Mader had already carved out a notable identity for himself during his relatively short professional career. At the time of his unfortunate passing in 2023, his net worth was estimated to be $5 million, and he was earning an impressive salary of around $1 million per year. Much like many young individuals of his generation, Gino possessed exceptional ambition and maintained a relentless work ethic to achieve his goals. Additionally, he engaged in endorsement deals with various brands, further augmenting his financial portfolio. Nevertheless, his primary source of income stemmed from his successful cycling career, through which he had amassed a considerable fortune.
Gino Mader measurements
Gino Mader undeniably reached commendable heights in his career. Standing at 5 feet 11.25 inches (181 cm) tall and weighing 61 kg (134 lb), he possessed an athletic body build. With light brown hair and captivating dark brown eyes, he presented a distinctive and appealing appearance. These physical attributes complemented his achievements in the world of professional cycling, highlighting his well-rounded success in both his professional and personal endeavors.
