By Scott Bradburn
Coming into the start I was still sad about those 5 seconds lost from yesterday but pretty sure it wouldn’t matter much with a 9k finish climb.
The stage started well for the team with most of the guys keeping good position in the front up the climbs and Sam taking some KOM points and looking strong as always. The pace was on for the first two hours with an average speed of 43km/h despite a very bumpy circuit. Avanti and Charter Mason were very attentive and neutralising each other but neither were willing to call a truce so it was on which was great – some fast aggressive riding. Plenty of other teams also got amongst it with Olivers Real Foods and African Wildlife also racing well. Life was good.
Coming into the final 20km before the climb I was still feeling positive about life but things changed quite quickly. Coming down a windy descent I was sitting about 20-30 back (you know… to stay out of trouble). As I rounded a fast right hander I heard some yells and heard the screech of brakes. I couldn’t see the problem but there was no way I could pull up in time so took the only option I had which was to move left onto the gravel to get around it. 1 second later I saw the problem. A very nice Harley was also heading into the gravel perpendicular to me. T-bone time.
Every cyclist who has ever been involved in a high impact crash knows the awful feeling. Thought processes went something like this:
Before impact-
“Maybe I can still get around”
“Nah I cant get around… this is going to hurt”
Post Impact and now sailing through the air over the top of the moto
“Well I’m alive… but Ange (wife) isn’t going to like this…”
Post landing and coming to a stop
“Well I’m alive. I can feel my legs. That’s a win”
“My knees hurt but I can bend them. I guess that is good”
“OK I’m ok… where’s my bike?”
“OK there’s my bike, where’s my front wheel?”
“OK there’s my front wheel, where’s my front hub?”
Every single spoke had been snapped off the rim so the hub was torn clean off. Not bad. I then looked around and quickly realised the carnage. Everyone is ok (if stitches and a broken arm can be considered ok) but it could have been much worse. It appears like the motorbike rider was following instructions to cross to the other side of the road but was caught out when the peloton came around the corner quicker than anticipated. Hopefully a lesson learned.
Massive thanks to the ambulance crew and our GM Tom for quickly coming to my assistance and making sure all was ok. The team had an eventful day with Marcus also coming off in the crash and heading to hospital and Ado having a bad mechanical at the worst time. 3 riders left for tomorrow. Hopefully it will be less eventful.
