"You have to work hard for a long time without results.
And you'll feel like you're putting yourself into a hole,
but you just have to stay focused.
You have to have faith that if you're doing the work now,
you'll get there sometime."
- Nicole Reinhart
At the BMC Software Tour of Arlington on September 17th [2000] sadly came the untimely death of Nicole Reinhart, 24 years old and one of the top women’s cyclist for the Saturn Pro Cycling team. I was there to witness and enjoy watching cycling’s great athletes up close who share my passion for cycling yet stand on the elite levels of the sport.
To witness an elite race up close being a cyclist yourself, ties you into the tempo and passion almost as much as racing it yourself. You cheer on the riders, feel the wind as they fly by, sense the pain and intensity of the moments as they streak by you two feet away.
We who love cycling are tied together not unlike a pace line drafting off each other’s impassioned love for the sport. We feel the wind in our helmets and are bodies move like machines as we fly three feet off the ground whether we are recreational or elite cyclists.
From what I read and saw of Nicole Reinhart, she carried the passion for cycling from her teens in Trexlertown at the Lehigh valley track velodrome to as far as she could take it; professional cycling for the women’s Saturn Pro cycling team. She had won three previous races in the BMC Software series that set her up for the possibility of winning $250,000.00 if she won in Arlington.
She crashed earlier in the race down one of the long hills in Arlington but got back on her bike and with the help of her team was brought back up front from 1 minute back to 13 seconds. The crowds were all behind her likable presence as the announcer told us that she was the first up the hill on the last lap of the 3.5 mile course.
When the riders came by there was no Nicole. We later heard of the crash and much later before canceling the men’s race we heard of the unbelievable passing of Nicole.
I was profoundly moved by the days events and realized that we who love this sport are all tied together. It is in the ties that bind us, this bond can bring us together in joyful celebration or in the pain of unfathomable tragedy. In choosing to put forth our bodies, our minds and spirits into the sport or activity of bicycling, we cross into that place which we share a sense of freedom and a sense of camaraderie with other like souls.
I felt for the teammates huddled together crying after losing their friend, and with the tie of cycling, I felt the loss of a kindred spirit as well.
I admired her ability as I do other great racers who embody both the physical and spiritual and mental driven passion for the sport.
In Arlington that sad sunny afternoon as the events of this most sad and tragic moment passed a sudden hard wind moved through the start finish line taking down posters and blowing papers down the road.
Perhaps Nicole’s intense spirit had needed to finish that last race.
My deepest condolences go out to Nicole's family and friends. She will be missed by the cycling community.
Gary Stafford, NBW
NBW Spoke'n Word, Dec 2000/January 2001