A devastating training crash for Bontrager-Livestrong development Cycling Team
A number of cyclists from Bontrager-Livestrong Development Cycling Team were rushed to the California hospital after a training crash.
Team owner Lance Armstrong and Director Axel Merckx were also present during the incident but were lucky to avoid the wreckage.
Teammate Ian Boswell voiced after the crash, “It was probably the highest casualty rate of any crash I've ever seen as far as people being severely injured, Out of the six people that went down, four went to the hospital. I've never seen a crash where so many people were injured”.
Boswell was amongst the cyclists who were badly injured. Lawson Craddock, Charlie Avis and Connor O’ Leary were also seriously wounded after the crash.
A total number of 15 Bontrager-Livestrong cyclists were all set to climb the three kilometre ascent. Boswell and O’Leary collapsed and took four more cyclists with them.
The Training camp in California is scheduled until March 29th but O’Leary and Avis had to alter their plans as the duo rushed back home to start the recovery process.
O’Leary dislocated his shoulder while Avis damaged his wrist after breaking the scaphoid bone.
Lawson experienced swelling and bruising while Boswell was given quite a few stitches on his elbow.
Boswell briefed that the training camp was productive and the crash was just a small glitch that made the whole training look awful.
He noted that such incidents are part of the sport and although it is unfortunate to have such accidents during the training session but no one can really do anything about it.
“I find out Monday what the quickest way back on the bike will be, whether surgery or just letting it heal but I fully expect to be back in a few weeks for San Dimas and Redlands,” read an email from O’Leary.
Team Bontrager-Livestrong development team has been invited for the French Grand Tour and it is training hard to ride the 2012 edition of the Tour de France.
The team will have a busy time in March, it will ride the San Dimas Stage Race scheduled from March 16-18, followed by the NRC-Opening Redlands Classic in March 22-25.
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