Intermontane Challenge- Stage 3

Stage 3- “Great Lakes Loop”

“Some days just go better than others.”

Day 3 of the Intermontane Challenge was not one of the better days.  Things started out early with a race delay and a course reroute from 80k to 50k. This was needed as a disgruntled local trail builder had sabotaged a large section of trail including altered markings and booby traps! Once the race got underway things went fairly smoothly until large groups got misdirected on and off  the course leading to mass confusion and ultimately neutralization of the stage. Things were further complicated for Team Monavie-Cannondale when Tinker Juarez came across Jeremiah Bishop sprawled in the trail with a smashed helmet. Tinker selflessly helped his teammate to the finish line where JB was quickly shuttled to the local hospital via ambulance.

CT scans revealed a 20% compression fracture of the T4 and T5 vertebrae, Jeremiah was hurting! Not only was he in severe pain, be he was “crushed” by the thought of abandoning the race with only 2 days left, while in the lead by over 5 minutes. We are all grateful things were not worse, because as you know any injury to the spine can be very serious. In the coming days will better know the ramifications of such an injury but Jeremiah will likely be out  of action for a while, including the Leadville 100 which was a major focus.

So one day your the talk of the town and the next your hurting in the hospital, that’s the reality of professional bike racing. Hang in ther JB!

More race coverage by Velonews here and here.