Denmark's Mattias Skjelmose won the 2023 Tour de Suisse on Sunday, two days after the event went into mourning, following the tragic death of Swiss rider Gino Mäder.

Skjelmose, of Trek-Segafredo, embarked on the final day's individual time trial kitted out in the leader's yellow jersey, and though he was beaten on the day by 20-year-old Juan Ayuso, he still did enough to take the overall title.

Team Bahrain Victorious rider Mäder, 26, crashed into a ravine in the downhill finale of Thursday's fifth stage and was found motionless.

He was resuscitated and airlifted to hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Friday.

The 22-year-old Skjelmose, who took the overall lead Tuesday, dedicated the race win to 'Gino' and shed a tear talking of him.

"Gino is dead, and I think everything combined just made me very emotional," said the visibly moved Dane. "It just needed to come out after the finish line. Gino's family wanted the race to continue, so we did the right thing continuing."

Ayuso, of UAE Team Emirates, came second overall, thanks to his triumph on the same fifth stage where Mäder fell.

Ayuso gave a heartfelt ovation to the fallen rider after the race had ended.

"We're all thinking of Gino, we don't feel like celebrating," Ayuso said. "We gave our best in Gino's memory, and I personally wanted to win the tour for him." 

Following Mäder's death, the sixth and seventh stages were effectively neutralized.

Maeder's team, however, pulled out and was joined by Swiss outfit Tudor and Belgian rivals Intermarche, with around 36 riders deciding against racing on.