NVGP : Stage 3 Minneapolis Crit - Crash and Burn
My race ended last night at the
Minneapolis crit. It started raining as soon as we started. And it got darker
and scarier by the second. I was feeling great at first, but soon the rain was
coming down in sheets and I couldn't see a thing. My contacts were killing and
my tires started sliding around like I was on ice. Of course my brakes didn't
work either, so the combination became too much. I couldn't believe we were
actually racing in it. It was dangerous and stupid. I'm really upset that they
didn't call the race sooner. As it was, about about 14 minutes I crashed into a
barrier. I was unhurt but I fell off the back of the field. As I got up to speed
and attempted to chase back on, I crashed into another set of barriers. My
brakes just didn't work in time so I couldn't slow down. I impacted into the
fences at well over 20 mph. Instantly, my arm was killing me and I could only
think of getting off the course as soon as possible. I couldn't move my wrist
without serious pain. I sat on the curb and some people helped me with my bike.
By now I was soaked to the bone, I thought my race was over and my wrist was
broken. The leaders came by and another crash happened at the same corner, and
as I walked along the course, another crash on the next corner. I heard one lap
to go, they were calling the race off. Quickly, I jumped on my bike and pedaled
to the finish to get a time and the ability to race the next stage. I got into
the car and tried to strip off my wet clothes but I could use my left hand at
all. Any twisting motion made my wrist feel like hell. After some icing and
rest, I felt like I would try to continue stage four. I got myself up and my
stuff into the car. Dan got us down to the race. I then got on my bike and tried
to figure out how I was going to hold on to the bar. I was ok on the tops and I
could sort of use the brakes but I couldn't stand up at all or sit in the drops.
The angle on my wrist was too painful. I knew I would be worthless in the race
in this condition and for my safety and potentially that of others I had to bag
it. I didn't want to crash because I could barely hold on to the bars. Besides
that, Anne was flying in from Bangkok at 1 and I would now be able to greet her
at the gate. I was really bummed to watch the race take off without me in it,
but I knew I had made the right call. After getting Anne home I went to the Doc
to get some x-rays. We didn't find any serious damage. Maybe a light crack on
one of the middle bones there, but nothing to worry about too much. Mostly just
a bad sprain. I think I should be back riding in few days. It doesn't really
matter though. I am going on break. I knew NVGP was going to be my last race for
a while. I was bummed I had to end it this way, but that's how it goes
sometimes. Maybe I'll recover and do state road next weekend, but I'm not going
to push it if I'm hurting. I've had a great spring and I have no regrets. I'm
looking forward to spending some time with Anne and going up north to play in
the lakes. I'm excited to get married in just over a month, and for our
honeymoon to Canada. Once I'm back from that, I'm going to start training hard
for Cyclocross and continue with my later season goal of making the worlds team.
I might take the blog offline for a while and come up with something a little
different for the next half of the season. I'll post more when I decide. Thanks
to everyone for the support. I truly appreciate it. We'll keep in
touch.
Thats my new gauntlet. And the
other pic is Tilford and Page battling in the rain. Tilford won because when it
gets crazy he gets going.
Posted: Sat
- June 17, 2006 at 07:33 PM
