SantaFondo Founder And Pro Irena Ossola Hit By Car, Badly Hurt

Canadian UCI continental team SAS-Macogep pro rider Irena Ossola was seriously injured after colliding with a car in Santa Fe, New Mexico while training last week.

According to a police report, 29-old Ossola was riding her bike downhill last Friday, Nov. 10 when she collided with a car turning in front of her. Ossola was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque for a compound fracture to her right hand, a broken right arm, two breaks in her right leg, a left eye orbital fracture and brain swelling. Ossola was in Santa Fe to begin her off-season training and organize a local free gran fondo—SantaFondo. She puts on the SantaFondo each year as a way to bring the local riders together for a fun ride with free beer afterwards. The local cycling community has stepped up to see the gran fondo goes off as planned on Nov. 18 from the Santa Fe Brewing Company headquarters. (Ironically, the header photo on the SantaFondo's Facebook page shows a "Share The Road" sign.)

The car driver told officers "the sun was blinding him and he didn't see the bicyclist." He said he heard a loud bang as he was turning.

Ossola's family released a statement on her Facebook page on Tuesday. "Thank you for your support and well wishes! Irena is currently receiving excellent medical care," it read. "She has been making great strides on her hard recovery after the accident. Every hour we can see slight improvements."

In July, Ossola finished on the podium in third place at the USA Professional criterium championships. She closed her season in September finishing third at the Cycligent Virtual Racing World Cup in Paris. "Happy I could make some fireworks go in the last stage and have an exciting win..." she posted on Facebook.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Ossola's extensive medical and rehabilitation expenses.

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