Team Share the Road affected by another crash

Oct 25th, 09. Another rider from the Share the Road Tour of Southland team was involved in a car vs cyclist incident this weekend. Karl Murray is bruised and battered, but still expects to start the tour.

McDermott's children in the new Share the Road tops, "Bright" on the bike.

If bad news comes in threes then the Share the Road team, who aim to promote safer roads for all, are looking forward to their rough spell being over.

"This is the 3rd Share the Road rider in the last month to be involved in a crash," Team Manager Brendon McDermott told RoadCycling.co.nz

In Saturday's crash during a popular Auckland bunch ride, Karl Murray was involved in an incident when a car pulled in front of the bunch to go into a driveway, causing three or four riders to go down and others scrambling to avoid the crash.

"I was at the front of the local Saturday morning bunch ride cruising at 30km/hr when this crazy women turned her car into her driveway which was about ten meters in front of us which left us nowhere to go. Two of us hit the car then the road followed by a couple of others," Murray told RoadCycling.co.nz

"Bodo Lang hit his head and I bruised my ribs and strained my groin along with some road rash on my boney legs. The bike took a big hit on the seat stay which left the carbon a bit squishy, so it looks like a new frame is needed. 60cm frames are hard to find."

"I will not miss Southland as the cold will numb the pain!"Murray says he will see how he feels later in the week and he may decide to I pull out of K2. "I will not miss Southland as the cold will numb the pain!," he joked.

Murray is the second in the team to be involved in an Auckland crash with a car pulling in front of riders. Last month Roman van Uden hit the side of a turning car after another car in the line of traffic allowed the turning car room to cross. Van Uden says that crash was unavoidable. The talented rider has had surgery and is back on his wind trainer, arm in a cast and all, but can't participate in the Southland Tour this year.

The other Share the Road teammate to be involved in a crash recently was Ryan Wills. He injured his wrist in one of his last races in Europe. X-rays once back in New Zealand confirmed what Wills knew at the time, he has a broken bone in his wrist, however he intends strapping it up and racing in the Tour of Southland.

Despite the run of crashes, Share the Road Team Manager McDermott is philosophical. "I'm thinking positively as it could have been three riders out," he said.

"Luckily for the team only Roman van Uden’s injury was serious enough to require surgery and effectively end his Tour of Southland hopes for 2009."

"It seems like a war zone out there with so many riders getting hurt or killed by careless drivers"Share the Road's message is one all cyclists and drivers need to keep front of mind. "It seems like a war zone out there with so many riders getting hurt or killed by careless drivers," Murray said.

"Hopefully the Share the Road message can raise the awareness of cyclists and motorists respecting each other on the road.....same rules, same rights, same roads!" said McDermott.

About Share the Road

"Share the Road" incorporating the Powernet Tour of Southland is a campaign funded by Road Safety Southland and delivered by Sport Southland.

The unique nature of the campaign is using a professional cycle race, and the riders, to promote the road safety message. The main aim is to promote the Share the Road messages of road safety while getting more people active through safe cycling.