Teenage Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer has died after sustaining head injuries in a crash at the road world championships in Zurich.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) and world championships organisers announced the death of the 18-year-old on Friday.

"With the passing of Muriel Furrer, the international cycling community loses a rider with a bright future ahead of her," the UCI said in a statement. Murrer's family has asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.

Furrer suffered a severe head injury when she crashed in the women's junior race at the road world championship in Zurich on Thursday.

She fell in a wooded area on the circuit on the north side of Lake Zurich, which is used in all road races.

Furrer was taken to hospital by rescue helicopter. She died at the University Hospital of Zurich, where she was being treated.

At a news conference Friday, a director of the Swiss organising committee, Olivier Senn, said no official information could yet be given to confirm exactly where the crash happened, adding that police and the public prosecutor's office are investigating.

He said: "We have lost a promising young athlete with the full life ahead of her which is very hard to take. We cannot imagine how it must feel for the family and friends."

Furrer's family had asked that the championships, which run for nine days through to Sunday, continue on schedule, International Cycling Union (UCI) sports director Peter van den Abeele said.

A gala event for the UCI, scheduled on Saturday evening has been cancelled, as were public events to celebrate the races planned for Zurich on Friday.

The women's and men's elite races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, will use the same stretch of road where the fatal crash happened.

Senn said: "The downhill was looked at again just today. We have slightly amended the staff on site. We believe we always do the maximum on the safety and security of the riders."

Furrer was considered an up-and-coming talent in Swiss cycling. She was active in the road bike, mountain bike and cyclocross circuits.

In May she won the bronze medal in the team competition at the European Mountain Bike Championships in Romania. She lived near the World Cup route and attended the United School of Sports in Zurich.

Furrer is the second Swiss cyclist to have died after crashing on home roads in the past two seasons.

Gino M?der suffered a fatal crash at the Tour de Suisse in June 2023. The 26-year-old rider went off the road and crashed down a ravine during a descent, dying from his injuries the next day.