Indian Pacific Wheel Race
For those who don`t know, my son and I have been following this race since the start.
These riders both male and female are ultra fit in body and mind. A race of5,500 k`s unsupported, and the clock does not stop.
But the race has be canceled due to a tragedy.
World ultra-distance cycling champion Mike Hall killed in Indian Pacific Wheel Race
March 31, 20177:58pm
A professional male cyclist may have been killed in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race.
THE cycling world is mourning the death of British ultra-distance star Mike Hall who was struck and killed by a car while competing in a race across Australia.
Organisers of the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel Race - which covers 5500 kilometres from Perth to Sydney - cancelled the event on Friday after Hall was killed on the outskirts of Canberra.
Hall died at the scene following a collision with a car on the Monaro Highway before 6.30am.
The 35-year-old was in second place at the time.
“Mike revelled in the spirit and adventure of ultra-endurance cycling events,” race organisers said in a statement.
“Mike’s efforts in both raising money and the spirits of others were tremendous and he leaves an incredible legacy.” The organisers say they’ll co-operate fully with official investigations and “intend to undertake a detailed investigation of our own”.
Hall was in second place when his GPS tracker stopped moving near the scene of the collision.
According to Cycling website cyclingtips.com, the last ping from Hall’s GPS tracker was at around 6.30am. “It hasn’t moved since and is currently displaying a “Stop” message,” the website stated.
Hall revealed he was having problems with his vision in a recent video posted from the race route.
“It gets dark and all the glare of the light hitting the signage and road furniture just swirls around and blurs,” he said on the race’s Facebook page on Thursday.
“I’ve been thinking that I can’t stay awake because I’m just really tired. But it’s just the fact I can’t see in the dark properly — my eyes are nailed.”
The race started on March 18 in Fremantle and the leading rider, Belgium’s Kristof Allegaert, had been expected to reach the finish line at the Sydney Opera House on Friday.
About 70 riders started the race with Hall and Kristoff the favourites. Hall was one of the best ultra-distance riders in the world, having previously won the Trans Am Bike Race across the US and the Tour Divide traversing the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico.
The British rider organised the Transcontinental race across Europe which Allegaert has won three times.
The Indian Pacific Wheel Race, organised by Australia’s 2015 Trans Am winner Jesse Carlsson, was the first time Hall and Allegaert had gone head-to-head. The showdown was being closely followed by fans across the world as the leaders approached Sydney. They had been racing with very little sleep. Hall revealed he was having problems with his vision in a recent video posted from the race route.
“It gets dark and all the glare of the light hitting the signage and road furniture just swirls around and blurs,” he said on the race’s Facebook page on Thursday.
“I’ve been thinking that I can’t stay awake because I’m just really tired. But it’s just the fact I can’t see in the dark properly - my eyes are nailed.”
Well-known Australian cycling commentator Matthew Keenan on Friday tweeted: “Heartbreaking. #rip” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said her thoughts were with Hall’s family and friends and the entire Indy Pac community.
The driver of the car involved is assisting ACT Policing with their inquiries. Crash investigators will piece together the circumstances surrounding the collision and prepare a report for the coroner.
“I can suggest, given the nature of the collision, an investigation into the circumstances would suggest the rider of the push bike died at the scene,” ACT Sergeant Chris Meagher said.
“[The driver] will be spoken to later by our Crash Investigation Reconstruction Team.”
The statement from organisers of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race read: “A collision between a motor vehicle and a cyclist occurred on the Monaro Highway at Royalla in New South Wales at approx. 6.20am on Friday morning. Race organisers are working with local authorities. We will co-operate fully with official investigations and we intend to undertake a detailed investigation of our own. Race organisers will provide more information when it becomes available.”
“That driver is in shock and will be spoken to later. There is no suggestion of speed or alcohol at this stage,” Sergeant Meagher added.
Another cyclist in the race, Eoin Marshall, was injured after colliding with a vehicle on the outskirts of Tarlee, north of Adelaide, on Monday morning. He was treated in hospital for a head wound and a fractured rib.
The Indian Pacific Wheel Race
According to its website, the Indian Pacific Wheel Race is a solo, single-stage, unsupported, 5500km road cycling race ocean-to-ocean across Australia.
The course is 100 per cent sealed. The race starts on 18 March 2017 at 6am in Fremantle, Western Australia and finishes at the Sydney Opera House whenever you get there. The clock does not stop. There is no prize money. “Nothing is at stake except honour,” the site states. ?
This race was inspired by the other grand tours of bikepacking: the Tour Divide, the Trans Am Bike Race and the Transcontinental.
Similar to these races, the rules for the Indian Pacific Wheel Race are simple and largely self-policed. The rules attempt to embody the spirit of self-support and fairness for all riders
