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Zach Bell recovering from crash at Tour of the Gila

May 11, 2014
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Canadian champion Zach Bell. Photo credit: Casey B. Gibson
Canadian champion Zach Bell. Photo credit: Casey B. Gibson

With two laps to go in the Tour of the Gila’s Stage 4 criterium, Canadian Zach Bell of Team SmartStop looked poised to take the stage win last week. His race had been flawless. He’d lapped the field with three others and by all accounts he was the favourite to win of the four. That was until he was taken out by “a guy who had nothing to gain by taking the risks he was,” according to Bell. Bell’s tone isn’t demeaning or begrudging what happened. He is simply being rational. “Half of Gila’s field didn’t have a great deal of experience at a high level,” said Bell. “At the top you have guys who have ridden pro continental and ProTour levels. However you also have those riders who might be racing in their first or second big event. This means guys without a lot of experience are fresh enough to take risks.”

Nevertheless, crashes happen in bike racing. It’s an unfortunate reality and Bell is recovering, albeit slower than he’d like. “As of yesterday, I just broke my collar bone a week ago. Things seem to be progressing a little every day but it is frustrating,” said Bell. His race program will undoubtedly be impacted in a small way. Bell, however, is looking at his circumstances positively. His team, SmartStop, has a little break in its program. The next major race will be Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic, which Bell hopes race in even though he thinks there is a high likelihood he won’t recover in time.

Beyond Philly, Bell is optimistic and this crash will not deter his overall plans. The Commonwealth Games remain imminent at the end of July. The Tour of Alberta is also a top priority for Bell if his team gets an invite.