A moving tribute from the American champion two years after the tragic death of the Swiss runner
A gesture can be worth a thousand words. When Quinn Simmons crossed the finish line of the third stage of the Tour de Suisse pointing to the sky, everyone understood the profound meaning of that moment.
Exactly two years have passed since that tragic 16 June 2023, when Gino Mäder lost his life following injuries sustained in a dramatic fall on the descent of the Albula Pass during the Tour de Suisse.
Simmons, who was present in the peloton that day and who is returning to the Swiss race for the first time this year, wanted to honor Mäder's memory in the most beautiful way possible: with a victory dedicated to him, right on his roads.
The Lidl-Trek rider was the protagonist of a 190-kilometer breakaway, leaving his last companions behind 20 km from the finish line in Heiden to take an emotional solo victory.
Simmons confessed after arriving.
'It's very difficult for me to be here again, especially seeing his mother at the start. But now I can pay tribute to him, and I definitely had extra motivation today.'
The double gesture of victory - first the arms open like an eagle to celebrate the success with the jersey of US national champion, then the finger pointed to the sky for Mäder - encapsulates the full meaning of this special day.
For Simmons, it is the third victory of the season, after the success at the Volta Catalunya and the American national title. But this one, dedicated to the memory of his late friend, will certainly remain the most significant.
