[mdub47]

@Tim Kelley 141581 wrote:

The event organizers report that the woman is healing rapidly, is expected to make a full recovery, and be released from the hospital soon. The other two crashes were shoulder/collarbone issues are were released from the hospital on Sunday.”

Thanks. They sent this out in an email to participants earlier today:

“I am also pleased to report that everyone involved in the incidents during Sunday’s Challenge Ride and were transported to area hospitals are all doing well and on the mend. The most serious, a female cyclist who was critically injured during the Corporate Challenge Ride is out of the ICU and doctors have indicated that they expect a full recovery. The family would also like to thank all those in the cycling community who have offered their support during this time, thank you. In good spirits, the cyclist offers these words of encouragement for all to ‘Keep at it! See you all next year!'”

[mdub47]

Back on the original topic, does anyone have an update on the woman who was injured?

[mdub47]

This was my fourth year to do this ride. In 2013, 14, and 15 I completed six laps in just under 3:00 hours averaging right at 19 mph. This year with all the slow downs and stops I finished 5 laps in 2:33 so I didn’t go out for the 6th lap. I was also caught up in a secondary crash behind the first main crash and even though I didn’t hit the pavement it rattled me a bit.

My experience in all four years has been that the start of the ride is very tense with 3000+ riders of varying ability all mixed together (corporate teams start up front, not fast riders) and with a very fast downhill about a mile into the course. After the first two-thirds of a lap (the climb up to the AF Memorial) the riders are pretty well spread out and things settle down. You can still encounter issues with some fast riders being jerks, people not calling their passes, slower riders riding in the middle of the course, riders not holding their line in a turn, etc., but the course is generally open enough that these things don’t become a big problem.

Given that, it seems a start staged by predicted speed (number of laps) would allow the spreading to take place quickly and would solve most of what people have complained about.

[mdub47]

@Sunyata 141360 wrote:

Unfortunately I can not give more detailed information, but the female rider in the crash at the beginning of the race was still in critical condition as of yesterday afternoon. I have not gotten an update this morning yet.

Thank you. Please keep us updated.

[Author]

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