Cape Epic winner Howard Grotts (Specialized) was still in a hospital in Denver, Colorado on Thursday after sustaining numerous “serious” injuries in a crash during the final stage of the Breck Epic mountain bike race in Breckenridge six days ago.
He was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital to receive treatment for injuries to his spine, ribs, collarbone and shoulder blade, race director Mike McCormack said on a GoFundMe campaign page set up for Grotts.
According to a report by Durango-HeraldThe 31-year-old resident of the Colorado city was found to be in stable condition on Monday. Cycling news has also reached out to race organizers for an update on Grotts’ medical condition.
Grotts, a seasoned off-road racing pro in the Life Time Grand Prix field, was leading the overall men’s classification of the six-day mountain bike stage race last Friday when he lost control of his bike and crashed. The event’s medical team arrived on scene, where Grotts regained consciousness and was taken by helicopter to St. Anthony Hospital.
“With about a mile to go, Howard lost control of his bike and sustained serious and life-threatening injuries. Our medical team responded quickly and were at his side within minutes. They were immediately assisted by local emergency services and Summit County Search and Rescue, whose response team prepared Howard for transport,” McCormack wrote.
“Howard was flown by helicopter to St. Anthony’s in Denver where the severity of his injuries could be fully assessed and treated. They are extensive and include damage to his back, spine, ribs, collarbone and shoulder blade.”
Going into the sixth and final stage of Breck Epic, Grotts had a lead of over 22 minutes over Zach Calton. But one mile from the finish line of the 29-mile stage, Grotts suddenly veered off course.
The pro field was then neutralized on Stage 6 as many riders stopped to help when they spotted the crash. They all took the same amount of time as stage winner Matt Pike, who was the only rider ahead of Grotts at the time. Pike said he didn’t realize the severity of the crash but heard it.
“I could hear him behind me. There were some rocks and I heard what I thought was a pedal stroke, which was quite possible,” Pike told Brek Epic organizers in a post-race report. “I thought we had a gap and he sat up and rode into it, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”
Lasse Konecny described the scene when he arrived with Robbie Day: “I stopped and Robbie said, ‘Go find someone.’ He was wrapped around a tree and not moving. I knew there was a steward nearby.”
McCormack launched the GoFundMe campaign for Grotts last weekend to help with his medical bills. As of August 22, $88,945 had been raised, with a goal of $100,000.
Grotts won Cape Epic for the second time this year, sharing the title with Matthew Beers. He is racing at the Life Time Grand Prix for the third time, where he finished 10th in the Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL and 13th in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB.
“Grotts took a win on Wheeler’s relentless steeps, finishing one minute ahead of stage runner-up Lance Haidet,” Breck Epic organizers posted on Instagram.
“Many of you know that the next day, just one mile from the finish line, Howard suffered serious injuries. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to cover medical expenses associated with his recovery.
“To learn more or better yet to donate, please visit the GoFundMe link in our IG bio.”