The John Lieswyn Diary 2000

BMC Tour of Boston - To Nicole Reinhart

Boston, MA, September 17, 2000

Team Shaklee arrived at the race site around noon, and we got ready to race on the sidelines just past the finish line. We saw the women come through at 2 to go. The Saturn women had the race well in control, setting up Nicole Reinhart. If Nicole won, she'd collect $250,000 bonus for winning all 4 BMC events. At 1 to go, same thing: several attackers riding just seconds ahead of a Saturn led main group, now less than 20 women strong. We heard from women who had been dropped that the descent was fast and dangerous: there had been crashes on many laps. We finished our team meeting in time to watch the women's finish. Amazingly, Nicole was nowhere to be seen and the only Saturn woman in the first group shook her head grimly as she crossed the line. Tina Mayolo of AutoTrader.com won the sprint. 2 minutes later it was confirmed that Nicole had crashed on the descent.

I went to do a lap of the course with Seth Pelusi, Tim Johnson and Peter Wedge. Halfway down the descent, on a straight part of the road, we ran into a mess of emergency vehicles. I stopped at the far side of the road. Saturn rider Dede Demet-Barry was standing on the sidewalk crying, and hugging someone. Nicole was being lifted on a stretcher into the back of the ambulance. I couldn't see her face. Dede walked closer to Nicole and I'm sure she was pleading for everything to be OK. Never did I think that Nicole was even unconscious.

Sobered, I remounted and finished the descent. The men were lining up. The announcer Jeff Roake called Team Saturn and Mercury to the front line, but then paused in the usual pre race windup. A couple minutes later the announcement was made that the start was postponed until 1:45pm. No reason given. At 1:45 we weren't lining up yet. Rumors went around that Nicole wasn't breathing after the impact and had to be resuscitated. There was no news from the hospital.

Mercury director, John Wordin talked to some of the teams about doing a "ride" instead of a race, allowing Fraser to win and donating the $250,000 bonus and all prizemoney towards Nicole's hospital bills. None of us could conceive that it could be worse than just injuries and an expensive hospital bill. When the announcement came that she had died and the race was cancelled, everyone started packing up in dumbfounded silence. About 30 minutes later about 50 riders from the men's field and several cycling fans boarded their bikes, and we all followed the Saturn team car around in a lap of mourning. Uninformed groups of cheering residents lined the course. It was jarring to hear them whistle and clap.

Just before the tree, I think it was Bart Bowen of Saturn that suddenly swung off. Moments later he rejoined the group clutching a red flower. We all stopped at the tree in front of 83 Highland Ave. I didn't even know Nicole, but I cried when the Saturn boys pinned their numbers to that flower and placed it at the foot of the tree. I cried for one so young having been taken from her family, friends, and teammates. While the rest of us looked on with our helmets in our hands and heavy hearts, the Saturn boys formed a circle and linked arms. After a few minutes, we set off and completed the lap. Uncertain clapping awaited us at the finish line and the loudspeakers played a somber tune. Not much was said as we all packed up.

Today my wife Dawn had her first day off (in the last 2 weeks) from her veterinary internship. Despite having a severe cold and on the brink of total exhaustion, she came to watch the race. We had only known each other a few months when she came to watch me race the '94 Athens Twilight Criterium. In front of 25,000 screaming fans, my Coors Light teammates and I put on a real show and we were leading on the last lap when a drunk clambered over the barriers to step out right in front of us. My teammate Chris Huber hit the guy, and I went headfirst into the barrier at 50kph (30mph). I compressed two vertebrae in my middle back and suffered for months after that.

Dawn has been my greatest supporter since then despite having seen firsthand how dangerous this sport can be. I'm one of the most cautious riders in the peloton. I don't participate in the most insane field sprints, and am often reminding people that it isn't worth a $2000 trip to the hospital to win $100 for 8th place. Dawn knows I am careful and experienced. Then again, so is Frank McCormack but he fought for his life after a crash in Japan last year. She and I didn't say a word about it at dinner in Boston or on the way home.

This tragedy today has really taken the wind out of my sails. Now I know how difficult it must have been for the TdF peloton to continue after the death of Fabio Casartelli several years ago. It's really hard to say this right now, but I love this sport and this job. All of us who promote and participate in bike racing must redouble our efforts to mitigate the risks.

My prayers are with your family and friends, Nicole, and I know that you are in a beautiful place now...