Apr. 25 , 2010
CRASH PLAGUES ZENN RACING TEAM
Zenn Racing Team: Chris Ott
Livermore, CA - For some reason it's always the seemingly simple courses which tend to be the most dangerous. The Wente Criterium is no exception. Year after year, the race is marred with multiple crashes and EMT vehicles carrying injured cyclists to hospital. This year would be no different. There are no technical turns or major obstacles on the course, but heavy winds cause riders to move all the way into the gutters and inevitably riders cross wheels or get pushed off the course.
The race would start with nearly 100 riders on a circuit of just over 1 mile. Chris Ott from Zenn Racing Team, looking to get in some additional Criterium miles decided to race. As the race was already shortened due to a major crash in the previous race, it started out with a tremendous amount of aggression. Even in the first couple laps, several riders and several teams were taking unecessary risks for no apparent reason. It seems this course tends to turn normal, experienced bike racers, into brainless idiots. Sensing the danger, Chris moved to the front of the field. As an attack went from Matt Carino of Art's Cyclery, Chris joined up and a group was formed (Matt Carino, Greg Anderson, Andres Gil, and Ott). With this horespower opening up a gap, alarm bells rang in the pack and a hard chase would pull it back.
Just as the pack caught up, riders swerved all the way to the gutter and Ott banged elbows trying to make some room. With no road left, Chris was forced into the storm drain and into the curb at nearly 30 mph. His race was over.
Chris landed on his hip and hit the curb hard with his forearm, but fortunate to not sustain any serious injuries. Without casting blame to other riders' neglegent riding style, Chris shook it off as "the unfortunate part of racing" and will live to fight another day.
The Zenn Racing Team's day is coming! The District Criterium Championships are May 2 in Pleasanton, and the Zenn squad looks to be out in force with Scott Fonseca as a primary contender. Stay tuned!
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