Race Across America 2009: Canadian top-rider Peter Oyler had to pull out

Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 04:03 PM

Strasser, Oyler and O’Keeffe abandon

The big news from the race yesterday was the DNF of formerly fourth-placed Christoph Strasser. Touted as a big favourite for Rookie of the Year after making waves in the European ultra scene, the youngest solo competitor in this year’s race had slowed considerably and abandoned due to medical reasons, just before the halfway mark.

Peter Oyler was also forced to abandon, unable to ride through the agony of “Schermer’s Neck”. The Canadian has been almost a mainstay in sixth position over the last five days, but there was no way he could ride 1,400 more miles in such pain. He can be immensely proud of his effort. The same goes for Tony O’Keeffe – in a double blow for Canada, he too abandoned, having looked so strong only yesterday.


You can read on Oyler's website peteroyler.com what he thinks about his regrettable pullout:

Thank you...

Hello everyone,

Well, it is the morning of the 24th of June roughly 36 hours after having to withdraw from the Race Across America.

Before I get into this in real detail I want everyone to understand how much I appreciate all the love, support and care that you have all shown to my team and me before during and now in the tough times after having to withdraw.

Even though I had to withdraw from the race and many of you have sent emails expressing your concerns and support I am looking back at the past days and am trying to keep a super positive attitude about all of this and will do my best to fully understand what happened to me make a learning experience from it, rather then dwell on what could have been.

Now all of you along with my team and me, whether you have been a supporter that rides a bike or does not ride a bike are at a place where we should celebrate our lives together sharing our cycling and non cycling experiences moving forward rather then as I have already said dwell on what could have been.

Heading into RAAM , I felt that I was certainly in the best shape of my life but regardless of that we all know that things can happen that can be beyond our control. As well, heading in RAAM I had the best group of hard working, pro active group of people on my side that anyone could have asked for. I will never forget all of the work that went into the task and those that put in all the time and efforts that even allowed me to get to the starting line.

The race itself, started with all things normal and I was riding with some of the best in the world, even having the chance to say to Jure Robic that it was an honor to ride along side him even though it was short lived! Up until the day I was forced to withdraw from the race at least he and I were still in the same state!

As for what really happened to me, basically I had water retention issues causing my body to swell to the point where I was 16 pounds heavier then where I had been at the start of the race. Usually, as most of you know loosing weight is the issue, not gaining it! Throughout the race, I was well hydrated never feeling super hungry and was eating the best foods that I have ever eaten during an event as I stayed away from the refined sugars of cookies and things like that for the entire time

Keeping up with my nutrition, I along with the team could not figure out why I was so bloated. I was getting none of the signs and symptoms that typically come from having not enough electrolyte or lack of calories in general. What was occurring was that my kidneys were leaking for reasons that are still unknown. They were leaking Red Blood Cells and Proteins into my urine and at a cellular level the best way that I understand it right now is that things really had no where to go at and I just started to grow. So, for now as I get ready to drive to Annapolis to spend a day or two with Kathy and my dad and his wife I am still puffy and can’t wait to look normal again. Once back in Toronto, I will be getting more tests done to find out hopefully what really was the problem and get back to training when I am really healed.

As for RAAM, I certainly won’t be entering in the near future. Heading towards next year I would like to continue to work with my supporters on different initiatives that will continue to support Kids Help Phone and kids in the Toronto area from a cycling perspective.

So until I am able to speak with each and everyone of you personally at some point hopefully over the next couple of months, thank you again for all of your dedication to me and my team. We all truly appreciated the love, care and support that was shown by so many people that made RAAM 2009 an experience that will never be forgotten even though we never made the finish. The journey to get to where we did was worth its weight and everyone of us is better for it and we all look forward to the future of cycling and what can be done for others.

Thank you sincerely everyone and come July it is my turn to help you in anyway I can, I will press on and still try to remember that I am a beaver!

Be strong everyone,

Peter