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5 weeks out. And currently not sure if I get to race Unbound 😓 I tore my MCL! 

🌹 Rose of the weekend — I got to sneak my way into @acyclingteam gravel team camp. These guys took the best care of me, and I was grinning from ear to ear Friday-Saturday. We did a tough ride Friday, and then the rest of the day was R&R, which I so desperately needed. Sipping a Topo Chico on the rooftop of @corcellars was wildly different than my stressful work week, and I’m really grateful to have been welcomed with open arms for team camp. Thank you boys for everything 🥺

Now, for Sunday, Gorge Gravel Grinder 100:

I DNF’d at mile 19. Fuck.

At this mile marker, we had a gravel to pavement right-hand-turn. I swung wide to complete the turn and take my speed down some notches, but I still lost a wheel at last second and crashed. 

I shot up really quick, said out loud “I’m ok!” and went to grab the bike. I looked down and saw the saddle bent 90 degrees the wrong way. With a simple twist, both carbon rails snapped completely off. 

It took half a second to register what just happened. And then I felt the lump in my throat and I sat down on the ground. You can’t ride 80 miles without a saddle, you just can’t.

When I stood, I realized right away that my right knee didn’t feel right. The adrenaline was pumping, so I still climbed in a truck bed to lay down the bike for rescue back to town. 

To validate the spiciness of the corner, I witnessed 10 more riders crash there while I was waiting for rescue 🫠

All week I’ve been scratching my head regarding injuries — I have no road rash at all. It’s clear I didn’t slide on the ground, but I hit hard enough to snap my saddle clean off. I must have hit hard too? My knee just doesn’t feel stable as a result & I’m in pain. 

Today I saw a specialist and got a diagnosis; I have a grade 2 MCL tear (partial tear). It is “medium injured” which is exactly how I’ve been feeling. 2-3 month recovery. 

With this news, Unbound is up in the air. It’s going to be a “how far is progress” call until the last possible second. And I’m fucking gutted. I don’t know what comes tomorrow let alone next week. I’ll keep you posted 💖
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