Erika had a rough introduction to the 2010 season of road racing. She was dropped from the group on a hill during lap 2 and couldn't get back on. Riding by herself on the last lap at the bottom of the hill at the sharp right hand corner the Cat 1-2 group caught her in the apex of the turn. There was no pace car in front of the group at that point and they passed without warning her of which side they were coming around (they passed on both. They were going about 20 mph faster . It was the absolutely worst place for her to get caught. She held her line but some guy smacked into her taking her out. She then got run over by a couple of others. She was shaken after but luckily nothing broken that we can tell. We may have her shoulder checked out at the hospital tomorrow. She ripped her shoe in half (haven't seen that before) and cracked her helmet. Other than a few other lacerations and a shoulder injury she will be ok I think. Be careful out there...It looked like there was a lot of carnage in the medical tent.

Damn! I'm glad that she wasn't hurt too badly but even "not too badly" still sucks; believe me, I've been there. There were a lot of crashes today. There was a big one in the Cat 3 field during the sprint for the prime. Same thing essentially. One guy sat up during the sprint and guys were swerving to get around the guy shooting backwards.

I wonder where the lead car was. That's not normal.

 Jeff, glad to hear hear she is ok.  I hope she heals up quick.  If she get the chance, it might be good for her to shoot off a mail to the lead ref explaining what happened and that there was no lead car that came by before the racers.

I got the oppertunity to go by and see some of the afternoon races finish as I got done with my work around noon.  I heard there was a number of really strange wrecks, and I also heard Beardsly had a fit for being DQd in the Cat 1 race. 

Sorry to hear Jeff/Erika....Heal fast and heal well :)

I was out there watching for a little while in the morning and it sounds as if there were 2 crashes in the CAT 3 race as well as the CAT 4 race. Not sure about the afternoon races....but lots of crashes today, which is a bit unusual at the BB races considering how wide the roads are (with wide shoulders).

I will say the ORBEA follow car driver was going nuts on the course. He was flying around cyclists that had been dropped going back and forth through the field. I'm guessing there may have been a complaint or two filed against that guy.

The fire truck and ambulance were screaming in when I arrived today. Glad to hear it wasn't for Erika.

The CAT5, first group, rolled along without any incidents to my knowledge. Having the shoulder seemed to really help open it up vs. Cherry Pie.

The Land Rover team care driver was dangerous. He must have blown by me on the side of the road doing 70+.

Matt D'Elia:

I also heard Beardsly had a fit for being DQd in the Cat 1 race. 

I saw the end of the Mens 1/2 finish and yea...it was quite the display. One would have thought he had just won a stage in the Tour de France. Basically, he didn't have more than a foot of space on either side of him and had a 1/2 wheel lead...As he crossed the finish line he immediately threw both hands in the air screaming out something (don't remember what).

It was a "Chest Thumping" moment for sure....LOL at the DQ :)

David Doughty:

The Land Rover team care driver was dangerous. He must have blown by me on the side of the road doing 70+.

 

 

They must have been raising hell all day. Sean and I saw them pulled over by the HP along Hwy 26 on our way out to the race this morning.

I wanted to give a shout out to Jamie Cobb for an absolutely outstanding and tough effort in the mens 50+.  Damn, he was out front the entire time duking it out with who ever tried to keep up with him.  Not only could I not help out, I couldn't even keep up with him.  Great effort!!!!!!!!

 Congrats on your return to racing Jamie!  I think he scored a top 3 finish, but it was very hard to tell with the fields coming in all randomly at the end there. :)

Update on Erika. Nothing broken in her body. Found that she cracked my old zipp 303 front wheel in half when we got home. It hurts me to look at it.

Good to hear about Erika....sad to hear about your Zipp 303 :(

Second that.  Jamie raced outstandingly.  Nose on the front a lot and one breakaway atempt.  Nice race Jamie. 

Good job Jeff and Brian in there fields.  Tough racing all around. 

Congrats to all PV participants racing is good tough fun.

 

 Russ, I hope you heard me cheering at you to sweep the leg on that last charge to the finish line. ;)

Jeff, glad to hear Erika has nothing broken.

 How about Jamie Cobb! Coming out of retirement he gets a second place ;)

 Ron, grats on your 34th place in the 1/2/3's.  That's seriously impressive considering we stopped to talk when I was riding out and you were riding back from Hagg lake. ;)

 

 34    704   Babcock              Ron            Portland Velo                              Hillsboro