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Mont Ventoux
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Race Across America - NE

USA, June 19-July 1, 2005

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Day 5 - June 23

Tragedy hits RAAM

Riding the stairway to heaven
Photo ©: Chris Milliman
Click for larger image

Tragedy hit the Race Across America today around 12.15 - 12.30 p.m. EDT, when Bob Breedlove, competitor #188, collided with a westbound pickup truck 28 miles west of Trinidad, Colorado. When paramedics arrived on the scene they pronounced him dead.

The accident took place on a section of road that sloped very gently downhill for cyclists in the race. According to the driver of the pickup truck, Bob Breedlove appeared to slump on his bicycle and swerved into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

The driver attempted to avoid Bob Breedlove, but the significant impact was made at the lower left part of the windshield.

At the time of the accident, Bob Breedlove was leading the 50+ category, and was 12th overall in the race.

Jim Pitre, the race director, decided after consultation with Bob Breedlove's brother, Bill, to continue the race. Bill Breedlove considered that his brother would have wished this. If a rider or team decides to pull out of the race, the management and officials will provide assistance wherever practicable.

Leader Jure' Robic
Photo ©: Chris Milliman
Click for larger image

Talking about Bob Breedlove, Jim Pitre said: "This is a terrible tragedy, just terrible. We all stand in awe of the memory of Bob Breedlove, who was a supreme cycle racer, an outstanding surgeon, and just a great human being. Speaking both personally, and on behalf of the entire management and all those associated with the race, I extend my most sincere sympathy to the family of Bob Breedlove."

The support vehicle was providing leapfrog support to Bob Breedlove at the time of the accident. Bob Breedlove was last seen by his crew members about a mile before the accident took place. They reported that he seemed fit to continue the race. "He seemed fine, we passed him a PowerBar and a Spizz (energy drink), and he went on his way," said one of the crew members.

Skidmarks leading off the road to the right suggest that the driver of the vehicle did what he could to avoid a collision. "It seemed like he must have passed out, he slumped on his bars. He just swerved right into our lane." Said the distraught driver of the vehicle, who hurried to the next town immediately after the accident and made the 911 call himself.

Ben Robinson lies 14th
Photo ©: Chris Milliman
Click for larger image

From the evidence and accounts, the accident is thought to have happened very quickly. While it is unknown whether or not it would have made a difference if a support vehicle had been present for Bob Breedlove, as an additional precautionary measure, a directive was issued from race headquarters that safety continues to be a primary concern and that all crew members are required to pay special attention, and to continue to conduct the race in a safe manner.

Crew members and riders have been instructed that if they feel the need to do so, to pull off the course to process their thoughts and gather themselves to continue. A 15-minute time allowance is provided for this. Riders and crew members who require more time will be granted this on request.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Chris Milliman/www.chrismilliman.com

Standings

Men's Solo
 
1 Jure' Robic                           1755.9   4.21.44  (14.91mph)
2 Mike Trevino                          1570.4   4.15.15  (14.12mph)
3 Christopher MacDonald                 1570.4   4.17.42  (13.81mph)
4 Marko Baloh                           1570.4   4.20.58  (13.43mph)
5 Fabio Biasiolo                        1570.4   4.21.44  (13.34mph)
6 Pius Achermann                        1512.9   4.21.04  (12.92mph)
7 Valentin Zeller                       1457.7   4.17.36  (12.83mph)
8 David Haase                           1417.4   4.18.42  (12.36mph)
9 Benjamin Couturier                    1356.1   4.19.18  (11.76mph)
10 Chris Hopkinson                      1356.1   4.20.46  (11.61mph)
11 Alessandro Colo'                     1305.5   4.17.42  (11.48mph)
12 Mark Metcalfe                        1305.5   4.21.18  (11.13mph)
13 Alexander Gepp                       1251.6   4.17.55  (10.99mph)
14 Ben Robinson                         1183.1   4.10.28  (11.11mph)
15 Jim Trout                            1183.1   4.13.08  (10.84mph)
16 Thomas Rodgers                       1183.1   4.16.41  (10.50mph)
17 Karl Traunmueller                    1112.5   4.10.52  (10.41mph)
18 Patrick Autissier                    1112.5   4.12.17  (10.27mph)
19 Rob Kish                             1047.0   4.05.16  (10.34mph)
DNF Bob Breedlove                       1047.0   3.22.17  (11.10mph)
DNF Kevin Walsh (Medical)                941.7   4.06.04   (9.23mph)
DNF Urs Koenig (Medical)                 824.9   2.23.40  (11.51mph)
DNF R. Arap (Missed cutoff)              635.2   2.06.17  (11.70mph)
DNF John D'Elia (Exhaustion)             450.3   2.00.44   (9.24mph)
DNF Dave Kees (Medical)                  340.4   1.00.31  (13.88mph)
 
Women's Solo
 
1 Anna Catharina Berge                  1356.1   4.21.02  (11.59mph)
 
Two Person Male
 
1 Team Lower Austria-Krems              1112.5   2.12.21  (18.43mph)
2 Crazy Gones                           1047.0   2.11.56  (17.47mph)
3 Team 60+                               897.8   2.12.44  (14.78mph)
4 Team Wisconsin                         824.9   2.11.44  (13.81mph)
5 Citta' Della Speranza                  780.7   2.13.14  (12.75mph)
 
Two Person Mixed
 
1 Grupo Guapo                            897.8   2.09.59  (15.48mph)
2 Team Endorphins                        897.8   2.13.10  (14.68mph)
3 Free Riders                            824.9   2.09.03  (14.46mph)
 
Four Person Male
 
1 Beaver Creek Team-Vail                1457.7   2.14.25  (23.35mph)
2 Kern Wheelmen / Advocare              1356.1   2.13.48  (21.94mph)
3 Team Schaffhausen                     1305.5   2.12.17  (21.66mph)
4 Webcor Builders Endurance             1112.5   2.12.09  (18.50mph)
5 Team Inspiration GB                   1112.5   2.12.33  (18.37mph)
6 Mucho Gusto Team                      1112.5   2.14.05  (17.92mph)
7 Team 3V                               1112.5   2.14.19  (17.85mph)
8 Team Give Life                         988.2   2.11.57  (16.48mph)
 
Four Person Female
 
1 Roaring Fork Volvo B2B Divas          1047.0   2.11.31  (17.59mph)
 
Four Person Mixed
 
1 Landis Team Phoenix                   1112.5   2.12.52  (18.28mph)
2 Team Cheniere's                       1112.5   2.13.09  (18.19mph)
 
Four Person HPV
 
1 ALS-Bacchetta                         1251.6   2.13.17  (20.42mph)
2 Team JDRF VeloKraft                   1112.5   2.12.01  (18.54mph)
 
Corporate Challenge
 
1 Team Insight                          1183.1   2.11.54  (19.75mph)
2 Team Donate Life                      1112.5   2.11.27  (18.71mph)
3 The Vern's Inc. Team                  1047.0   2.14.08  (16.85mph)
4 Team Dry Heat                         1047.0   2.14.08  (16.85mph)
 
Hour Corporate Challenge
 
1 Clif Bar Team                          492.8   0.23.23  (21.07mph)
2 Swami's/Raceplan                       492.8   1.01.26  (19.38mph)
3 Kaiser Permanente R2R                  492.8   1.02.35  (18.54mph)
4 JMI Rookies                            492.8   1.05.46  (16.56mph)
5 Team Bicycling San Diego               492.8   1.05.52  (16.50mph)