This year's story of inspiration from the Tour de Georgia bike race — which starts in Augusta today — is Craig Lewis, a cyclist on Team TIAA-CREF.
The Macon Telegraph reporter Sarah Meinecke recalls Lewis cycling for a top 10 finish in the mountainous Rome stage in the 2004 TdG. Somehow, a confused SUV driver steers onto the course and Lewis slams into the passenger door at 40 mph.
He broke 40 bones, including his jaw, which was wired shut. When given a pencil and piece of paper, this is the first thing he wrote:
“When Ride”
Lewis, who underwent seven surgeries, couldn't wait to get back on the bike again. Meinecke writes about Lewis disobeying doctors' order and sneaking out for bike rides.
He recovered enough to compete in the 2005 Tour de Georgia, where he placed among the top 50 riders and third in the Young Riders competition. This year, he wants to win that designation.
Next year, he figures he'll be 100 percent again.
The TIAA-CREF team website lists Lewis hometown at Greenville, South Carolina — same at George Hincapie.
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