Comeback kid Saul Raisin to race at pro cycling championships

When you read about bicyclist Saul Raisin, it's easy to draw comparisons to two former Tours de France winners; Greg Lemond, who fought back from gunshot wounds in a hunting accident, and Lance Armstrong, who beat cancer.

Raisin has been battling back from severe head trauma he suffered in a race in 2006 to compete on Saturday in the individual time trial at the USA Cycling Pro championships in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Dalton, Georgia, cyclist for Credit Agricole has come a long way from laying in a coma in a hospital bed in France. Still, Raisin's team is being cautious about his ability to make a full recovery to the pro peloton.

Writer Jason Gay visited Raisin several times over the past few months for his excellent article in October's Bicycling magazine. He leaves us hopeful that one day we'll see Raisin on the podium in Paris.

Raisin shows amazing spunk and spirit. He just wants to get on with his life, which means getting back to bicycling.

Some highlights (and lowlights) of his career:

— At age 20, Raisin was named best young rider at the Tour of Georgia in 2003

— Credit Agricole signs Raisin in 2004; he's promoted to Credit Agricole top-level squad in 2005 and competes in ProTour races around Europe

— Raisin crashes at the 2006 Circuit de la Sarthe in France, hitting his head; doctors induce a coma and relieve pressure on his brain, he falls into a coma and doctors operate to relieve pressure on his brain. They tell his parents that he'll probably be in a wheelchair the rest of his life

— Raisin starts rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta where he begins to learn how to walk unassisted again. He makes great progress and returns to his bicycle

— In February, less than a year after his injury, Raisin returns to the Tour of California and rides each stage ahead of the pelton racers. At the finish lines he talks about his Raisin Hope charity ride to benefit foundations for brain injuries

— He meets David Zabriskie's sister, Aleeza. They later become engaged

— His coaches at Credit Agricole clear him to race again, and he competes in the Porcupine Hill Climb outside Salt Lake City in July.

Raisin also has coauthored an autobiography with writer Dave Shields entitled: Tour de Life: From Coma to Competition. See the Tour de Life website.

Who knows how far Raisin can go? Making it his far is certainly an inspiration to anyone who faces adversity. But to hear him speak through the Bicycling magazine article — and at his Saul Raisin Racing blog, you got to believe he won't be happy until he's back with the elite racers of the world.