Boulder cyclist Lucas Euser wins USOC Fair Play Award after coming to aid in crash
When Boulder cyclists Taylor Phinney and Lucas Euser crashed descending Tennessee’s Lookout Mountain at the U.S. Road Cycling Championships last May near Chattanooga, Phinney lay seriously injured underneath a guardrail.
Euser could have continued in the race — and maybe gone on to win — but instead he quit the race and rushed to Phinney’s aid. For his selflessness, the U.S. Olympic announced on Monday that he will be the recipient of its annual Jack Kelly Fair Play Award, but for Euser it was a no-brainer.
“It never occurred to me to get another bike,” Euser said Monday. “It never occurred to me to continue the race.”
The accident occurred when a race motorcycle blundered into their path. Phinney suffered two compound fractures in his left leg. Euser, who races for the UnitedHealthcare team, walked away from his crash and hustled to Phinney’s side. Phinney races for BMC Racing.
American Lucas Euser races for UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling during the individual time trial at Stage 6 of the USA Pro Challenge in Vail on Aug. 23, 2014. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)