Bob Breedlove, a 53-year-old RAAM participant from Iowa, was killed Thursday when his bicycle veered into the path of a pickup truck about 28 miles west of Trinidad, Colo.
It was Breedlove's fifth RAAM. At the time of his death, he was leading the over-50 division and riding at 12th place overall.
According to reports on the RAAM website, the Des Moines cyclist was heading in a slightly downhill direction. The 15-year-old driver of the pickup truck told the state police that the cyclist appeared to slump over the handlebars as the bike came into his lane.
The Des Moines Register reported on June 25 that Breedlove was weaving back and forth across the road for several hundred feet before he slumped over. Also, Register columnist Marc Hansen writes about Breedlove's career and devotion to ultracycling.
The IowaChannel.com reports that a funeral for Breedlove has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hamilton's Funeral Home in West Des Moines. The website has set up a forum for those who would like to post remembrances of Breedlove.
The RAAM sponsors have also set up a Bob Breedlove forum for postings.
Breedlove's support crew last saw him about a mile before the accident. RAAM spokesman Paul Skilbeck told the Denver Post that Breedlove was averaging about four hours sleep a day and had ridden 150 since his last sleep break.
Breedlove had first ridden in RAAM in 1988, had finished second in 1994, and was well aware of its risks. In his rider bio on the RAAM website, when asked what intimidates him most about RAAM, Breedlove answered: “Illness, injury or death.”
This isn't the first death on RAAM. The race puts bicyclists out on the nation's roads day and night during all kinds of weather. Although the riders are well-conditioned athletes, their conditioning in compromised by the physical abuse and sleep deprivation they must endure.
In 2003, RAAM rider Brett Malin, a 30-year-old rider from Vail, Colo., was killed by a big rig while making a U-turn to go back to a support vehicle, according to VeloNews. He was riding as part of a RAAM relay team.
Meanwhile, the race goes on. According to stats provided to RAAM, Jure Robic has passed through Collins, MO, and leads Mike Trevino by about 120 miles. Former Mulkiteo (WA) resident Chris MacDonald follows Trevino by just over an hour and a half. Robic is about 700 miles ahead of Rob Kish, the last solo rider in the race. Seattle racer Jim Trout is in 15th place, having passed throug the Ulysses, Kansas, time check at 11:18 (ET) Friday morning.
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