Grotts is reportedly in stable condition at a Denver hospital
Howard Grotts flies downhill on his way to a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Leadville Trail 100. (Durango Herald archive photo)
Durango mountain biker Howard Grotts was seriously injured in a crash during the 2024 Breck Epic mountain bike stage race in Breckenridge on Friday.
Grotts rode the first five stages in the top five of the elite pro men’s field. Then, about a mile from the finish line, riders found Grotts unconscious on the course, according to Velo.
He then regained consciousness while race doctors and paramedics tended to him. Grotts was taken by helicopter to a Denver hospital and is currently in stable condition, according to multiple reports.
Velo reported that Grotts suffered numerous injuries to his collarbone, shoulder blade and spine.
Matt Beers, Grotts’ teammate at Cape Epic, posted two stories on Instagram. The first is a picture of Grotts celebrating their Cape Epic win with the caption “Thinking of you champ,” followed by the caption of the second story:
“Howie had a really bad crash while leading the Breck Epic. He has multiple injuries and broken bones and will be undergoing surgery. We all know he is incredibly strong. Hang in there, buddy.”
Grotts, 31, competed in the Leadville Trail 100 last weekend as part of the Life Time Grand Prix series. In recent months, he has struggled with saddle sores that have kept him out of some races.
There is currently no further information about Grotts’ condition or the severity of his injuries.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
