Note:  This text is copied from a page from Bobby Julich's website where he writes about the crash that took him out of the 1999 Tour de France.  While this isn't a "giving instructions" essay, he does use many time transitions that are also used in many giving instructions essays.  Most of the time transitions are marked in bold blue.  (Direct links to both this page and Bobby Julich's main page follow this text.) 

July 20, 1999

Dear fans and supporters:

Sitting here in Philly right now is the last place I thought I would be during the month of July. It is a little hard for me to type this due to the cast on my arm, but I really want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your kind words and prayers. This last week has been difficult, but when I look at the situation I feel incredibly blessed that nothing more serious occurred in my crash. I know that many of you don't really know what happened exactly, so I will try to clear it up for you.

I rode the course in the morning, and felt that it was a great TT course for me. I also realized that the course was extremely hard in the last 20 km due to the strong headwind. My plan was to ride the first half of the race at 90% and then after the top of the 2nd climb, let it all go with a maximum effort to the line. I saw that I was already 1:40 down on Zulle and that motivated me even more to give it my all the last 25 km.

I was on the descent spinning my 55x11 as fast as I could when I reached a sweeping right hand turn followed by a turn to the left that caused all the problems. I remember this turn from the ride in the morning, but with the speed that I was going I knew that I would have to be careful. Upon entering the 2nd (left) turn, I saw right away that it was going to be close. My speed was carrying me towards the outside of the turn while the road cut to the left. At the last moment I actually thought "whatever you do, don't slide out before the curb!"

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened when I broke too hard. I slid on the road surface for a brief instant before hitting the curb with my left elbow and ribs, and I cartwheeled into the dirt on the side of the road. I came to rest on my right side and I immediately tried to get up, but simply could not. I could not breathe very well and was scared. I just lied there and tried to relax as I did an inventory of my sensations. I calmly thought to myself, "I have a broken elbow and ribs, just relax." I was really out of it, but when the rider that started behind me passed by, it snapped me back to reality.

I tried to get up again despite all the people telling me not to move, but it was impossible. At that moment, I knew my Tour was over. Suddenly I was no longer worried about myself, but more so about the other riders that were coming by me. I was telling all the people that were around me to get out of the road, but who could pass up on stopping to take a picture of a Tour contender lying by the side of the road? It seemed like forever until the ambulance arrived and even longer until I got to the hospital.

To say the least, my stay at the hospital in Metz was a nightmare. They took x-rays of my ribs and elbow, but only at my request. They told me that nothing serious happened, just that I would be a little sore for a few days. The pain was excruciating, but they seemed like they were more interested in my autograph than my health. They kept me overnight, which had to be the longest night ever! I did not sleep for more than 15 minutes the whole night and had plenty of time to evaluate my situation. I left the hospital the next morning and knew right away that I had to get a second opinion.

Upon returning to Nice I went to the hospital and gave the doctors the x-rays that they took in Metz. Within seconds they told me that I had a broken elbow and sent me to the radiologist to take more x-rays. I walked out of the hospital with a cast on my arm and most likely 3-4 broken ribs. Broken ribs are difficult to see on the x-rays until a week or so later when the calcium forms and outlines the breaks, so I will find out this week the exact condition of my ribs.

The first 4 days were torture, but now I am feeling much better. I rigged up my turbo trainer and found a way to ride without that much pain. I have good condition right now and know that if I don't do anything, I will have a hard time coming back for the end of the season. The Vuelta and Worlds are now my goals, and if everything goes well, I will be ready. I have to stay off the road for at least 3 weeks to make sure that my elbow heals correctly, which means I have to train on the turbo and then I should be able to get back on the road.

At first I was shattered, but I feel truly blessed that nothing more serious happened and I realize that I have been through much tougher times than this!! Of course, I will find a way to turn this into something positive. This is just another one of those bumps in the road that we all have to deal with from time to time. This year has been difficult for me in many ways professionally, but I know that the good days will return. I will be back at the end of the season, or at the latest, next season, with many well learned lessons. You have to take the positive out of all situations and learn from your disappointments as well as your success.

Thanks again for your support,

Bobby

Click here to connect directly to Bobby Julich's website.

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