‘Beloved’ Colorado Olympian faces long recovery after cycling crash in Breckenridge

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Six days in with over 200 miles down, Howard Grotts was in the lead of the Breck Epic , a prestigious mountain bike race across the backcountry near Breckenridge. Grotts only had one mile to go before he claimed victory, but he never made it to the finish line.

The 31-year-old lost control of his bike, sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Now, the cycling community is stepping up to help out the Durango resident.

Grotts beginnings in mountain biking

Grotts is a decorated athlete; he competed in the Olympics in Rio for cross country. According to Team USA , it wasn’t until his brother passed away in 2016 that he decided to begin mountain biking.

Since then, he’s placed in popular events like the Leadville Trail MTB. This year, he took first in the Cape Epic , which is considered the world premiere for bike racing and filled with some of the fastest people on the planet, Mike McCormack, a local in the cyclist community, told FOX31.

Grotts is currently competing in the Lifetime Grand Prix , which is the most prestigious race series in the country, according to McCormack. On Aug. 11, Grotts began another renowned race: The Breck Epic.

The race isn’t for the faint of heart. It consists of roughly 40,000 vertical gain and loss, 220 to 240 miles long and lasts for over six days, according to the website. McCormack, the Breck Epic race director, said Grotts had previously won the race in 2017.

Grotts was back this year and close to the title. By the last day, Aug. 16, McCormack said Grotts was in the lead of the professional men’s overall.

Until he wasn’t.

Community springs into action

Grotts lost control of his bike a mile from the finish line. According to McCormack, the medical team responded quickly, prepped Grotts and he was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital.

In the hospital, McCormack said they found extensive damage to his back, spine, ribs, clavicle and scapula. Thankfully, Grotts is alive.

The cycling community sprang into action after the accident. After the crash on Friday, McCormack created a GoFundMe for Grotts with a goal of $80,000 . After only four days, there have been almost a thousand donations and over $68,000 raised.

“People really helped. He’s beloved. You have people who you look up to as mentors, and he does things the right way — quietly, humbly. He lets his work speak. He’s very much loved in the bike industry,” said McCormack.

McCormack also attributes the cycling community to the fundraising help.

“We don’t have the reach of Howard’s sponsors, but we do have our own list and our own village. And our village, while smaller, is remarkably and consistently kind and gentle, quiet and thoughtful. It’s populated by riders who love mountain biking. It’s just like Howard. We are his people,” McCormack said on Grotts’ GoFundMe page.

While people from all over have helped out with donations, McCormack said after the injuries he sustained, it will be a long road to recovery and Grotts needs the community’s help.

“We don’t have much control of his condition or of his recovery, but together, we can work to relieve the financial pressure and the mental burden those bills place on Howard and those who love him and raised him,” said McCormack on GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe page is still up and accepting donations.

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