Nathan O'Neill in 2006 (Image credit: Caroline Yang)
Nathan O'Neill has had his fair share of injuries, but this year, he's had two unfortunate incidents involving automobiles. He was lucky to escape both with minor injuries, and is set to finally start his season in the Tour de Georgia. Cyclingnews' Mark Zalewski sat down with the resilient Australian the day before the start of the race.
After winning his umpteenth time trial national championship, Australian Nathan O'Neill was set to return to racing in the States with his Health Net-Maxxis team - beginning with the Tour of California and then on for the California swing of races. However, the day before he was to fly to training camp in California, O'Neill was struck by a motorist near his home in Australia - fracturing his hip and taking him off the California rosters.
Having rehabbed at his home in Georgia, O'Neill was set to make his return in March at the Redlands Classic when another freak auto accident, this time while riding in a car at high speed, sent him to hospital again. Luckily he suffered only minor injuries and he is now set to start his season at his adopted home race, the Tour de Georgia.
Some may think Nathan O'Neill one of the unluckiest riders racing in 2007 - having his season delayed not once, but twice, by automobile-related incidents. However, O'Neill says that he actually feels lucky, when considering how bad the results could have been. "I say I'm really lucky because I came through both of them far better than it potentially could have been. I look at it in the short term and say 'Im still here and that I am having a good year. It sucks, but it could have been so much worse."
