Cycling Season Ending on Two Sad Notes
Dave Aiello wrote, "When I got back from my vacation yesterday, I read two stories about road cycling that made me upset and put some of the problems I have been worrying about in perspective."
"Last Sunday, Javier Otxoa rode in his last professional cycling race. He is retiring from the sport as a result of injuries he sustained in a cycling accident nearly two years ago. That accident left him in a coma for two months, and killed his brother Ricardo who was riding with him."
"Javier Otxoa has made a spectaular recovery to get back to this level of fitness, and all cycling fans should give thanks for that. But, it's hard not to compare his improbable recovery to that of Lance Armstrong. Seeing Otxoa lose his battle for full recovery is upsetting, and leaves me wondering what might have been."
"And in even sadder news, cycling physiology pioneer Dr. Ed Burke was laid to rest this week in Colorado Springs after sustaining a massive heart attack while on a group ride with friends. Burke was a prolific author on the subject of training for cycling and other aerobic sports, and will be remembered with Chris Carmichael for their revolutionary improvements in training techniques."
"When highly trained athletes like these leave the stage as a result of such terrible accidents, it scares me more than I can describe. How can 'weekend warriors' like me ever feel that they are doing enough to mitigate the risk of a sudden death or permanent injury?"