5 times winner of 'Race Across America' killed

[yello]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/jure-robic-killed-in-accident

I knew of his RAAM successes but not anything else about him. His name must be in the frame when thinking of top cyclists.

 

[vernon]

http://www.cyclingne...led-in-accident

I knew of his RAAM successes but not anything else about him. His name must be in the frame when thinking of top cyclists.

I'd never heard of him but there again I have only a passing interest in RAAM.

A tragic loss to the ultra marathon world.

 

[downfader]

Thats terrible news. First read of him in 2006, he used to haulucinate and attack his own team.

 

[rich p]

Very sad, he was a legend in the ultra world.

 

[yello]

This article/interview from 2006 is an interesting read, if you have time and are so inclined. When talking of his RAAM rides, it says...

The craziness is methodical, however, and Robic and his crew know its pattern by heart. Around Day 2 of a typical weeklong race, his speech goes staccato. By Day 3, he is belligerent and sometimes paranoid. His short-term memory vanishes, and he weeps uncontrollably. The last days are marked by hallucinations: bears, wolves and aliens prowl the roadside; asphalt cracks rearrange themselves into coded messages. Occasionally, Robic leaps from his bike to square off with shadowy figures that turn out to be mailboxes. In a 2004 race, he turned to see himself pursued by a howling band of black-bearded men on horseback.

The guy is undeniably a 'hard man', rides himself almost literally into insanity and back. Read what he says about pain and how he responds to it, you'd wonder if he was human at all. And, for those considering LEL etc, the remarks of a researcher make interesting reading...

In fatigue, it only feels like we’re going to die. The actual physiological risks that fatigue represents are essentially trivial.

Robic had neither extraordinary levels of fitness or talent apparently. That is, not good enough to make pro cycling ranks. He just (I say just!) had an ability to push himself to the extreme edges, through the pain and delusions. Like I say, a true hard man.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Very sad indeed. A legend.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I couldn't quite believe this - he is without a doubt the cyclist, if not the athlete, I most admired. RIP.

 

[downfader]

This article/interview from 2006 is an interesting read, if you have time and are so inclined. When talking of his RAAM rides, it says...



The guy is undeniably a 'hard man', rides himself almost literally into insanity and back. Read what he says about pain and how he responds to it, you'd wonder if he was human at all. And, for those considering LEL etc, the remarks of a researcher make interesting reading...



Robic had neither extraordinary levels of fitness or talent apparently. That is, not good enough to make pro cycling ranks. He just (I say just!) had an ability to push himself to the extreme edges, through the pain and delusions. Like I say, a true hard man.

It has been discussed by many that the man was a masochist. (SP?) He just wouldnt give up

 

[Globalti]

This article/interview from 2006 is an interesting read, if you have time and are so inclined. When talking of his RAAM rides, it says...



The guy is undeniably a 'hard man', rides himself almost literally into insanity and back. Read what he says about pain and how he responds to it, you'd wonder if he was human at all. And, for those considering LEL etc, the remarks of a researcher make interesting reading...



Robic had neither extraordinary levels of fitness or talent apparently. That is, not good enough to make pro cycling ranks. He just (I say just!) had an ability to push himself to the extreme edges, through the pain and delusions. Like I say, a true hard man.

You mean that kind of behaviour isn't normal?

Oh dear....

 

[hackbike 666]

Im a wimp then.

R.I.P big man.

 

[ianrauk]

Just read the interview.
Once of life's nutters, but the sort of nutters that this world needs.
A great shame.

 

[longers]

Very saddened to hear of his demise. RIP.

 

[accountantpete]

The Telegraph has finally got round to a full obituary

here.

 

[snorri]

He imagined that cracks in the road were coded messages, and on one occasion became convinced he was being pursued by the Mujahedeen on horseback; his support team encouraged him to ride faster, pretending that they could see them too.


That is just so cruel, you have to laugh.

 

[Fnaar]

If I need extra spurring on, I pretend I can see a bacon butty in front of me.