How not to end a Grand Tour!!
Well I suggest not trying this one at home. For my third crash in three weeks I really made a good job of this one. After over 5hrs and 200k in the saddle, and with still over 50km to go, we reached the main climb of the day. I was really starting to feel the pace as the sprinter teams stepped it up, and when we hit the climb Paolo Bettini (current world champion for those who don’t know) decided to gather his troops and tear up the climb to put the other sprinters in difficulty.
Well I’m no sprinter, but they sure put me in difficulty as I dropped out the back pretty quickly. I crested the 12km climb with a small group, only to get dropped again as I tried to take a drink and cool myself down with a bottle of water over the head. My team car passed me again to help me back to the group, but when I saw the car start sliding around a right hand bend at 80kph I knew I was in trouble.
Due to the serious fatigue from climbing I was slightly crossed eyed, and with reactions that would surely not have won me a game of ‘snap’, I entered the corner with a really bad line. I braked late, but quickly realised it was not enough, and slammed into the metal guard rail, hitting directly onto the up right support post, slicing open my left quad. My momentum flipped me over the barrier where in came to a grinding halt on a metre wide verge of earth, with a scarily close view of a massive cliff drop to my left.
I was rushed to hospital, x-rayed, and scanned for internal injuries, before having the muscle in my leg stitched back together. Then spent 3 nights in hospital, mostly high on pain killers as I waited out the days. I was lucky to have a passionate Italian cycling fan who saw me crash come and see me each day which was pretty cool, even though he didn’t speak English the company was nice.
My next adventure began once released from hospital, since thier were no planes available to accommodate me and my now horizontal leg, I commenced a 10hr ambulance drive back to Albi. Yes, that really was a long day steering at the scenery, mostly blue sky, out the back window of the ambulance. Once home I was stoked to be welcomed by some friends from home who had come to stay in Albi, Scotty L, Sam (wagon) Bewley, Cousin Brei (who made some magic pin wheels scones for lunch today) and my flat mate Pete.
By the looks of things I will be off the bike for up to six weeks, and will most likely be heading back to NZ for some recovery. So all in all it wasn’t really the way I wanted to exit my first grand tour, but I happy to have most of my health intact and some good friends to help start the recovery period.
A huge thanks to everyone who rang, txt, or emailed me over the last few days. The support and company was much appreciated.
Will report with my progress again soon
Tim
Hey Tim
Really enjoy following you on the pro scene and sorry to hear about this nasty crash. Take care.
Comment by Sue Bewley — May 25, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Hey Guddy, Been following your progress since you left. Mean to see you got a start in the giro. Hope that leg heals and you can get back in there. Take it easy
Comment by Jordan Newlands — May 28, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Hey Muddy Guddy
Love your website.
Glad to hear you are healing up mate. Least you will be able to make good use of the sound system and TV while you recover!!
All good here in the US of A, off to Montreal WC this week. Keep in touch, keep smiling:)
Comment by Cath Cheatley — May 29, 2007 @ 4:47 am
Coucou Tim!
ooh so a crazy crash! It makes me pain to see you like this on the picture… but hope you will fast have your 100% health back in NZ! … and i’m already looking forwards to see you again on the bike..but don’t stress, take care!
Bisous, a swiss fan!
Comment by Monia — May 29, 2007 @ 6:19 am
great to see you start in the giro tim. heard about the crash through your dad and have now just read what happened. bit unlucky mate. you’ll get back on the horse in no time. say hi to pete for us and get some rest.
Comment by te a cycles — May 29, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Hi Tim,
Great to see you out there competing at this level, going hard and doing what you love. Hope your recovery goes well and you continue to impress on the world stage and inspire other cyclists from little old NZ.
Take it easy
Mark Fulford
Comment by Mark Fulford — May 29, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Hi Tim,
Hope you have a speedy recovery, and are back on the bike soon. Congrats on a great web page have enjoyed reading it. Mike send his regards from Belgium
Comment by Angela Northey — May 29, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Hey Guddy soldier,
Bummer to hear about the crash mate, keep the chin up and rest up comrade. Will have to catch up with you if your coming back to NZ. Nice to see the website up and running mate, will be added to the favourites. Good Luck mate.
Over and out Comrade
Comment by Marky Langlands — May 29, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Hey Guddy. You poor bast**d. Not a good way to have some time off pal. Rest up and come back stomping. Hope you recover quick.
Comment by Thomo + Em — May 29, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Hey Tim,
Glad to hear and see you on the mend and super impressed with the positive attitude!! You rock and are a constant inspiration (even to us oldies!!) Looking forward to seeing you back in action. Take care and keep the updates rolling.
Comment by Blyth — May 29, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
OBG!!!!!!
What a shitty way to exit the Giro!! Caught up with the Kiwi girls in Limmers and we were all concerned to hear of your situation. No doubt the healing process will be rapid. Love reading the comments….who’s the little Swiss Miss??…and I am pretty sure Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch can sympathise…as do I. Take care.
Comment by Mesh — May 30, 2007 @ 5:17 am
Hi Tim,
Sorry to hear of your unfortunate fall in the Giro, we were watching (not your fall) the last 20k of the stage (Eurosport) so all the best with the recovery. We are a small group of Kiwi “has-beens” riding from Calpe (Spain) to Interlaken in Switzerland with some of Europe’s “has-beens”.
Take care and speedy recovery,
John Dean.
Comment by John Dean — June 7, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Hi tim! Wishing you a speedy recovery and many more grand tours! All the best from Corfu!
Nils
Comment by Nils Steen — June 8, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
hope you have a speedy recovery because we miss you in France!;-)
Take care
(great web site)
Comment by perrine — June 29, 2007 @ 1:31 am
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
Comment by Alex — August 16, 2008 @ 6:36 pm