I have been told he is at home now resting up. Out for 6 weeks min. He rides for Pacific State Bank Cycling. Doesn't sound like anything that time/patience won't heal.

Also wanted to say thanks to Pat and Mark, I heard they were spot on and took care of him.

I'll pass the word along to John.

Scott
Pres PSB Cycling.

John and I collided just after turn four. Here are excerpts from my race report and from Mark Vandenberge’s race report (by permission) from the Wells Fargo Team forum.

My report:

…Thru turn four, we’re now on the final stretch! Suddenly just after turn four straitened out, in the corner of my eye I see a guy so close to my right I knew we would collide… I reacted by putting my right shoulder out to the right. The other guy and I hit REAL hard. He went down real hard. I fortunately stayed up (I really don’t know how) and finished off with a half-hearted sprint to the finish.

I finished 9th. Mark just behind me in 11th.

The poor guy that went down went down very hard and took a few others with him. He took the worst of it and was one of the guys who visited the hospital yesterday. I felt very bad for him and the others. I am still shaken-up by how close it can for me yesterday.

Mark’s report:

... Then right after the line for the bell, we get split up. Someone pushed in front of me and I backed off and Al and I got separated. I know he's to my right, but I'm having a hard time getting through traffic to get in front of him again. By the time I hit turn three, I get back to him, but, now I'm on his wheel and can't get in front. Oh well, I guess this is what we get. We come fast through turn four with about 300 meters to the line. Suddenly, I don't know what started it, but the guy to Alan's right leans into him. And keeps leaning and leaning. All this at 32 mph. Finally the guy just goes down. Hard, really hard. I watched the whole thing in slo mo. he never got a hand out and hit his head first. Hard. Really dang hard. I knew this guy was majorly messed up. After that, neither of us really sprinted so much as cruised across and I know I looked back a couple times. Al took 9th, and I got 11th. But when we got back to the scene, Mark Caldwell and Patrick Briggs (both EMTs) were stabilizing the guy, who wasn't moving at all. JD Gilford ran over the guy and he was cut up pretty good, hurt his hand, but all in all was ok. I don't know what happened to the injured rider. I don't know who he was or even what team it was. I do know it was the biggest impact I'd ever seen a head take. I'd really like to know how the guy is. I suspect he's in the hospital. Al handled the situation perfectly. He held his line and kept himself and those around him safe. Luckily he was smooth or I'd have ploughed into him myself.

John, I hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

Sincerely,
Alan

Mark, could you see what caused John's crash? Everyone keeps asking me.
I was on Patten's wheel, who was right behind John when he crashed. We all had great position for the final sprint. All I saw was John and bike suddenly laying horizontal across the road in our path. I locked both wheels up and slid on my right side -- somehow missing John. Someone told me that another rider bunny-hopped over John or his bike.
After the crash John definitely looked shocky and hurt. It was clear his helmet had been broken up, so I was very concerned.

I'm very glad to hear that John's going home. It was terribly sad to see him in so much pain. I hope that he is very slow and careful in his return. Too many friends have had their lives altered dramatically by cycling head injuries.

John is doing OK. He has a few broken bones (clavicle, scapula, a couple ribs) but it doesn't look like he'll need surgery. He came home last night from hospital. Will be off the bike for a while then have to do some rehab.

Mostly just lots of discomfort to deal with, and time off the bike is never fun...

He says he doesn't remember the crash at all, so if someone who saw it could tell us what happened, i'm sure he'd appreciate it....

John will be off the bike for a while. He was admitted to stanford for multiple injuries sustained in the crash and I think he was supposed to be released yesterday. I don't know him personally so it's not really my place to report more than that.

Lorri
Race Director
Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix

John went down right in front of me and I had an unfortunate bird's eye view of it all happening in slow motion. Simply horrific. His head took all the impact of his fall as he never got his arms out. I'd really like to know how he's doing also. I've been thinking a lot about him since Saturday.

Mark VandenBerghe