A Tough Situation for the Giro

[penny_pooh]

The day Wouter Weylandt died someone posted "Yesterday we were debating sprinting etiquette" as if that was no longer important. The reality is that the most likely time for an accident like his is in a sprint, particularly when people fail to hold their line. In my understanding of the accident, the decent was incidental to what happened. 20 mph provides plenty of energy to cause a displaced basilar skull fracture of the spinal attachment as killed Wouter. Bicycle riders of all abilities are at risk from this nearly 100% fatal injury.

Basilar skull fracture of the spinal attachment is the same injury that killed, Dale Earnhardt Sr., in a NASCAR stock car race, Daytona 2001. Several stock car racers were killed the same year by basilar skull fractures induced by a rules change intended to make the cars safer.

I'm working on an article explaining what a basilar skull fracture of the spinal attachment is and the conditions that cause it. What NASCAR did about the problem, and the possibilities as well as the limitations of what could be done to provide some protection to riders.

I'm looking for a form for publication when the article is complete. I'll welcome anyone's views or recommendations.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Profff, that is a very well written and from-the-heart post. I suspect that most on this forum still feel incredibly sad, too, and as I watch the past couple of stages after Wouter's death, I am continually aware and thinking back to that horrible day.

I didn't think I would have much interest in the rest of the Giro, but in the end, there is still my love for cycling and the racing . Now I seem to see even more in each rider's face when I look at them , it really is a beautiful sport.