Painful accident for Xian de la Cruz of Nueva Ecija at stage 2 of Ronda in Bicol

Wheels of Happiness

It is not happiness but pain, thus experienced Xian de la Cruz of the Nueva Ecija team in the 2nd stage, team trial of Ronda 2022.   It may mark the  end of the cycling career of said rider who quit school just to train for the Ronda.  So far, the hospital bill is at P300K so far and the  Ronda organizer will  put up 50% or P150K, with the other half being charged to the jeepney driver whose jeep collided with the rider (the rider flew high up  in the air as seen in the video.

The question now is who is at fault:?  The local news said the cyclists were travelling fast (it is a time trial and maybe the locals do not understand the event, and that it si the riders who counterflowed (correct)

While the project manager of the  event, a lady has all ready made statements that this is an accident that is common on all sports, the organizer has spared no effort to make this safe.

Clearly there was no marshall;  the ronda probably lacked marshall  and should have made the public road safe for the time trial  It was not safe.

This echoes the observation of the father of Xian.   It can be avoided and painful accidents like this can be avoided if not prevented.   

Danger risks abound as we bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 6, 2017

Post Baguio City ride, Vhen Apran and I discussed the dangers that surrounded us as we biked.

What are they:

1.  Buses and and  and trucks whiz by at high speed, inches away.

2.  Tricycles animals and pedestrians suddenly dart out from between parked vehicles and worse from out of nowhere.

3.  In Paniqui, I was nearly sideswiped by a high speed tricycle. He was just inches away and I could have been injured once again (I am barely fully recovered from my collision with Alan;

4.  In Baguio City in before Kennon road, in the section undergoing construction, as we tried to bike away from the car stopped by one way we negotiated the section on the right side of the vehicles on the right side of which are meter deep ditches.  One mistake and you could be injured by a fall into this ditches.

5.  As we follow the peloton  they do counterflows and if you do not watch out, you could be get a head on collision with the opposing traffic.

6.  I went on this ride with a defective headset.  There was lot of rattling and strange noises.  I could have a run away wheel on a bad bump.  Thanks God it did not happen.

7.  As we ride to Urdaneta, late into the afternoon, I have to slow down by 5 kph because it was dark. I could bump people or fall into a rut.