Team Bahrain Victorious have withdrawn from the Tour de Suisse following the death of their rider Gino Mader.

Friday’s sixth stage was cancelled but the seventh went ahead on Saturday, with the final stage to take place on Sunday.

Mader, 26, died on Friday from injuries suffered in a high-speed crash on Thursday as riders descended from the Albula Pass in the Swiss Alps.

Road race world champion Remco Evenepoel claimed victory on a subdued stage seven on Saturday, pointing to the sky as he crossed the finish line in Weinfelden.

“It was clear that the race was kind of neutralised until 25km to go, then everybody was free to race,” he said.

“I’m not the kind of guy that just quits the race even though the situation is very, very hard for everybody. In my opinion, this was the best way to honour Gino.”

The peloton rode the final 20km of Friday’s route neutralised in honour of Mader.

His mother received condolences from several riders, who wore black armbands, with many consoling one another before, during and after the ride.

Another rider who crashed at the same place on Thursday, 21-year-old American Magnus Sheffield, was taken to hospital with a concussion and soft tissue damage.

Team Bahrain Victorious said: “Following the tragic loss of Gino Mader, Team Bahrain Victorious has taken the decision to withdraw from Tour de Suisse.”

Swiss team Tudor Pro Cycling said they withdrew because “under these difficult circumstances we feel it is the human way to respect the feelings of our riders and pay respect to Gino”.

Intermarche tweeted: “Our priority is to respect our riders’ wellbeing.”

Jumbo Visma rider Wout van Aert said it was a “difficult” situation before Saturday’s stage.

“It’s strange to be here again with a number on our back but there will be never a right moment to go on with normal life again,” said the Belgian.

“Today will definitely be the hardest day to restart and we’ll see how that goes.

“It was up to everyone to make their decision, to follow their feelings and emotions – how they feel like racing or not.

“Only during the race this will be clear – how the peloton is going for it and if we actually get a real race. Wait and see and there are no wrong decisions today.”

On Friday night race organisers said that “after an emotional day and a very touching ride in memory” of Mader, the race would continue.

They said the decision had been taken after talks with the family of Mader plus teams and riders, as well as the Tour de Suisse staff.

“Today was the worst day of my life. But tomorrow is a new day and that’s what we have to take care of as an organisation,” said race director Olivier Senn on Friday.

“After consultation with all the people involved, we as the management stand united behind this decision and are trying to hold the last two stages of the men’s race in an appropriate setting.”

The women’s Tour de Suisse will start as planned on Saturday.

Senn said: “The women and all the teams deserve a Tour de Suisse Women. We are convinced that we can offer the women riders a professional and safe race.”

Mader was a track cyclist before turning professional on the road in 2019 and joined Team Bahrain Victorious two years later.

In 2021 he won stage six of the Giro d’Italia and finished top of the young rider classification at the Vuelta a Espana.