If you get a chance, take a look at Kellen’s Rexburg Cycling page on Facebook to see the meme of the “injured” soccer player and the cyclist. I liked this a lot. (Kellen, send me a link and I will post it here). There is no question that cycling can be dangerous. Hardly a day goes by without reports of accident and injury. VeloNews reports today on Sergio Henao who hit a truck doing a recon of the team time trial course at the Tour of Switzerland. Henao is out of the race with a suspected broken knee. The frame of his TT bike ended up in three pieces.
It was also reported today that indestructible Chris Horner, age 42. who was hit by a car in a dark tunnel on an April 11 training ride which resulted in broken ribs and a punctured lung among other injuries will starting the Tour de France. http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/06/news/horner-line-race-tour-de-france_332642
I have speculated previously that with almost 13,000 feet of climbing, this is the year that the Ultimate Challenge has perhaps pushed a little too far for most non-professional cyclists. For that matter, I suspect that a lot of pros are pretty ambivalent about it as well. Today, in the Ultimate Challenge newsletter, there seems to be an emphasis on the shorter options, all of which end with the climb up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird.
From the Ultimate Challenge: New alternative starts in Coalville and Park City will provide 62 and 37 miles to the finish, respectively. All cyclists will get to experience the legendary six-mile climb up Little Cottonwood Canyon for the finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. Once at the finish line, all riders will be treated to a commemorative finishing medal, catered post-ride meal, and access to a reserved area to watch the conclusion of Stage 6 of the Tour of Utah.
This may seem a little contradictory, but even though I am pretty cool to the idea of riding full version of the new course, I am even less interested in riding a shorter version which features the traditional finish. Little Cottonwood Canyon is probably the only place in my life where I will be pushed up the hill by spectators. In some small way, I feel like you earn that if you ride the entire distance. I would feel pretty awful about being pushed by spectators after riding 37 miles. But maybe if you ride the shorter options you do not look so bad that spectators are moved to push.
Dave, are you doing ultimate challenge again this year?
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