Alamosa – Cyclist Bob Breedlove was killed while racing in the 24th annual Race Across America (RAAM) bicycle race after colliding head-on with a pickup truck near Trinidad.
According to reports filed by the Colorado State Patrol, the 53-year-old cyclist from Des Moines, Iowa, was traveling the race route eastbound on Colorado Highway 12 when he veered into the westbound lane 26 miles west of Trinidad and collided with a full-size Chevrolet pickup driven by Joseph Rael, 15, of Trinidad. Responding paramedics pronounced Breedlove dead on the scene at 10:30 a.m.
Competitors in Race Across America are riding from San Diego to Atlantic City, N.J. The majority of the field passed through southern Colorado Thursday.
According to RAAM spokesman Paul Skilbeck, who was on the scene, Breedlove was competing in his fifth transcontinental bicycle race and had finished as high as second overall in the event. At the time of his accident, he was leading solo riders in the 50-plus age division and was in 12th place overall.
Rael and passenger Mike Ross, 22, told police Breedlove appeared to slump over the handlebars of his bicycle as if he had fainted before swerving into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
According to Skilbeck, Breedlove was averaging about four hours of sleep per day and had ridden 150 miles since his last slumber.
“None of the experienced rider can see him falling asleep on the bike like that,” Skilbeck said. “Everyone thinks something else must have happened, but at this point we’re just wondering, speculating.”
Breedlove’s body was taken to the Las Animas County coroner’s office, where an autopsy will be performed. Any possible charges against Rael are pending completion of the investigation by the Colorado State Patrol.
Scott Willoughby can be reached at 303-820-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com.
