Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 13, 1994 TAG: 9405130104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
While the rest of the cyclists raced into Asheville, N.C., Dennis was stuck alone Thursday, peering out the window of Room 1226 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
``They say I might get out of here in another three or four days,'' Dennis said. ``Believe me, I never expected to be in Roanoke quite this long.''
While his competition left Roanoke after Monday's Stage 5 time trial, the 22-year-old Australian rider remained waylaid in the Star City, recovering from a dislocated left hip.
Dennis suffered the injury in a scary crash when he missed a turn on his descent down Mount Chestnut during Monday's time trial.
``I've seen the crash on videotape on TV a couple times and every time it hurts,'' Dennis said. ``It's like watching a bad horror film. I don't like to see it. It makes me hurt.
``The whole thing has been like a bad nightmare.''
Dennis crashed in a nasty hairpin turn, his bicycle veering over the road's edge and hurtling some 30 feet down a steep embankment.
``Everybody knew there were some tough turns, some switchbacks,'' Dennis said. ``But nobody probably expected some guy going over them at 40 mph.
``It was my error. I was going too fast and I had no control; I could see I wasn't going to make it. I remember saying to myself, ` ... Here we go. Hang on tight and let's see where we end up.' I was figuring I'd end up in a creek bed or something. I guess I was lucky.''
Though he admits details are sketchy, Dennis said he thinks he was injured when he came down on the bike's seat at impact.
The Aussie had an 8-centimeter-long metal plate and two screws inserted into his hip during surgery Tuesday.
``The doctors said the plate can come out in a couple years,'' Dennis said. ``I feel better today. Yesterday I couldn't even stand up.''
Dennis said he has been told it will be 12 to 15 weeks before he's able to ride a bicycle again.
``It's going to be hard to get back in shape again,'' said Dennis, who plans to head home to Queensland when he is discharged from Roanoke Memorial. ``I was really looking forward to this being a good year for me.''
Dennis, who competes for the Australian national amateur team, was the top amateur finisher and was fourth overall in last year's Tour DuPont.
He never had a chance this time. Dennis picked up a virus before the race prologue May 4 in Wilmington, Del., then bit the pavement in Stage 1 the next day, when his bike was struck by another bike in a large pack near the finish.
``Here, I had come to the Tour in good form,'' he said. ``Then I can barely get out of the bed during the prologue due to the virus. Then I took a tumble in Stage 1, but I didn't lose too much skin in that one.''
Then came Roanoke.
``I'll never forget Roanoke,'' Dennis said, breaking into a smile. ``Hey, I guess you can say there's at least one Australian who will always know about Roanoke.
``Let's see, I saw the mountain ... the back of an ambulance ... a nice emergency room ... and a lot of real nice nurses.
``The people here have been great to me. I can't believe how they've gotten behind. One lady brought me a balloon. The local bike club came to see me. I'd like to thank them.
``You know, I guess around Roanoke I will always be know as the crazy Australian who rode over the mountain's edge on a bicycle.''
by CNB