Durangoan Riley Amos of Trek Factory Racing was planning on racing in his first elite race this weekend during USA Cycling’s mountain bike national championships in Winter Park.
Unfortunately for Amos, he’ll have to wait a little longer to make his elite debut. During a training ride at Winter Park, Amos crashed and broke his collarbone.
“Put a quick end to my national champs week this morning,” Amos posted on Thursday night. “Clipped a pedal and got sent over the bars during training and instantly knew that I snapped my collarbone. Definitely a bit heartbreaking after feeling like my fitness was really coming around, but nothing else to do but focus on the best recovery possible. I don’t know when I’ll be back yet, but if my body lets me the goal is to start the world champs. Thank you to the amazing staff at Granby hospital who took care of me, and (Brayden Johnson) and (Tom Price) for getting me out ASAP. Best of luck to everyone racing this week, I’ll be out cheering!”
Amos had been racing in the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup this season in the men’s U23 field. He had his best result of the season in his most recent race in Vallnord, Andorra, where he reached the podium in third place. After six races, Amos had competed in five and was in sixth place overall in the World Cup standings with 324 points.
Amos’ toughest competition in the elite men’s national championship race would likely have been fellow Durangoan and defending short track world champion Christopher Blevins, who is scheduled to compete at nationals for the first time in three years.
