| Subject: | nicole details |
| Date: | 09/18/2000 12:20 AM |
| From: | Cass, Bill |
|
http://www.ridezine.com/reinhart_tragedy.htm (boston cycling magazine) Reinhart Dies After Accident in BMC Software Finals Men's Race Cancelled After Tragedy ARLINGTON, Mass. (Sept. 17, 2000) - Within a mile of perhaps the greatest finish of her career, Nicole Reinhart crashed heavily and suffered multiple trauma. The 24-year-old Saturn star was later pronounced dead at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass. A resident of Mertztown, Pa., Reinhart had won the first three BMC Software races and stood to win a $250,000 bonus offered for any racer that could win all four events. Reinhart had become tangled in a crash early in the race, but fought back into contention with the help of her Saturn teammates. Racing on a brutally difficult 3.5-mile course with a 1.3-mile climb, Reinhart - admittedly not a climber - topped the final climb in fourth position and set up for perhaps the greatest result of her career. After handling a swift downhill left corner, Reinhart reportedly set up on Highland Avenue for the right-hand turn on to Gray Street. On this relatively straight and safe portion of the course, a rider went down in front of Reinhart. The crash sent Reinhart into a tree alongside the course. Despite immediate response by race and medical staff, Reinhart did not respond to efforts to revive her. Tina Mayolo (Autotrader.com) won the race. The men's field lined up to start, but officials opted to cancel that event. She was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. BMC Software will be taking the $250,000 bonus money from the BMC Grand Prix and will work with USA Cycling and the Reinhart family to create a foundation in memory of Nicole. |
