Road Bike Racing - Bummed for Saul

Credit Agricole decided it was too dangerous for Saul to return to the peleton in '08. Saul has announced that this is the end of his pro cycling career. I am bummed for him. Best of luck to Saul in his next career.

is it really true??

Yes, its unfortunate that he hasn't improved enough to come all the way back. On the bright side, he's doing surprisingly well for someone who could easily have been severely disabled or dead.

Also, isn't he engaged to David Zabriskie's sister? Can't be too bummed about that.

he had a severe head trauma and it's amazing he has come as far as he has.
He'll make a good coach.

Unfortunatley it's true. Good luck Saul.



Mes rêves de pour faire le vélo professional sont morts. My dreams to be a professional cyclist are dead. I do not know where to begin. This is the hardest blog I have ever had to write. Yesterday, I was greeted by my Mom and Dad early in the morning in Salt Lake City. I was so surprised to see them but the fake smile on my Mom’s face revealed something was wrong. Roger Legeay had called them the day before to tell them that the French doctors would not release me to race. His voice cracked as he later told me the news and I tried hard to fight back the tears. I did very well on my neuro-psych tests but the doctors said it would be too dangerous if I were to crash and hit my head again. It is hard to take in the fact that all the last 13 years of hard training are now over. I always say that if you do your best in anything be happy and content knowing you did your best. I will always stand by this motto. I did my best and gave my all to get back to the sport of professional cycling and am content with the fact I did my best and I will never ask, what if? Now it is time to move and start new a new life. I am no longer Saul Raisin, cyclist professional for the team Credit Agricole. I am now Saul Raisin, brain injury survivor - soon to be happily married to the most beautiful girl in the world, Aleeza. I have to admit I am scared. I do not now what I want to do or what I will do for a living. Like I have said many times before, my family and I dreamed for me to live a normal life. I now have a normal life and have pledged to give back and help others that have brain and spinal cord injuries or any other major illness. I want to grow my Raisin Hope fund into a foundation. I hope to have shown people to never give up and always fight to the finish. I have been truly blessed with a loving family, friends, and the best support group on earth. I would not be here without all of you and of course all my loyal sponsors. I no longer want www.saulraisin.com (http://www.saulraisin.com/) to be a haven just for cycling. I want my website to be a refuge for anyone that has an injury or illness to come and feel at home to know that things always do get better. My life has just begun with the most beautiful girl in the world. There are blue skies ahead(I love you Aleeza).
Job hunting is not going to be fun.. any ideas? Up for hire. http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/mambots/editors/mostlyce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif

Love you All,
-Saul

Sounds like he is taking it in stride.

I have no doubt that someone with his mindset will be able to find employment.

Very sad. He came back from a lot.

he had a severe head trauma and it's amazing he has come as far as he has.
He'll make a good coach.

Dude, your avatar is starting to really creep me out. I don't know why, but it is.

It would be nice to see him stay in the sport. I also think he could transition to triathlon quite easily, or just do HC's and TT's for a year or two and see where he's at. I respect his decision though, even if I am bummed about it.

I'm sure he'll find some way to expend his energy in a socially beneficial way.

I just wonder if its the kind of thing that would improve significantly with another year of recovery.

Dude, your avatar is starting to really creep me out. I don't know why, but it is.

It's because Mugatu's a d*ck! He tried to brainwash Derek into killing the claymation dude.

What a shame. I just finished reading his book. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. It is the best book I have ever read. Really helps put life in perspective.

Dude, your avatar is starting to really creep me out. I don't know why, but it is.

The stare of M U G A T U empowers you, don't fear it, embrace it.

It's because Mugatu's a d*ck! He tried to brainwash Derek into killing the claymation dude.

M U G A T U invented the piano tie, no one can ever take that away from M U G A T U.

1 down. Less competition for me.

1 down. Less competition for me.

Ahh, you'll easily win at being just another moronic poster.

...calling any US domestic pro team....he's available.

^^^

No way he races, until a number of doctors say his chances of further problems are almost nil.

^^^

No way he races, until a number of doctors say his chances of further problems are almost nil.

Sorry...I was referring to a leadership position, like a sport director, not a racer. Frankly, having communciated with Dave Shields (author of the book on Saul), I am not surprised that this happened. I am not sure that after going through what he did, that I'd want to race a bike again. Hitting a simple stone on a descent could have ended his life. To race at that level takes a lot of courage. Any doubt and you can't keep up. He's getting married...why take the risk?

He's had a chance given to him, now it's figure out what to do with it. Being a director would be a way to stay in the sport.

^^^

You really think he could get a role in leadership? He is only ~ 25 yo. ProTour experience is a plus, but he'd probably have to start at some "scraping-by" position and be on the road 250 days a year. No way I'd leave my family home for a full time position in management, unless the pay was enough to warrant an actual career.

Of course, w/o kids yet, I suppose it could happen for a couple years and then decide if it's still worth the trouble.

Vaughters was 30 when he quit riding, he messed around with real estate for a couple of years in Denver while founding TIAA/CREF 5280 (in 2003) which was for young riders.

A guy with international experience from a Pro Tour team? Absolutely.

I cant see what risk he is in, If any other pro busts his mellon at 60mph. odds are he will probobly act like rain man also... so I think as long as he is willing to do the waiver thing, he should be allowed to race. why take a mans dream away..... I think the french quacks just cant fathom the idea of another Lance Armstong like come back story....i.e. tired of seeing local french dudes get their ass kicked by american kids.

I cant see what risk he is in, If any other pro busts his mellon at 60mph. odds are he will probobly act like rain man also... so I think as long as he is willing to do the waiver thing, he should be allowed to race. why take a mans dream away..... I think the french quacks just cant fathom the idea of another Lance Armstong like come back story....i.e. tired of seeing local french dudes get their ass kicked by american kids.


I don't believe that at all. His director Legeay (sp?) was behind him all the way, but just can't take that chance on him. If Saul really wants to ride, he'll get a ride. He is one super talent. I say he'll move on.

Something else to consider, and I'm just guessing here...do cycling teams have to carry insurance for their riders? If so, wouldn't someone with Saul's known medical history be prohibitively expensive to cover?

I'd probably take the risk at another team. We'll see what he does.