Up-and-coming USA amateur cyclist Zoe Clay, 23, died on 8 October after crashing at an MTB race in North Carolina according to her father.

“On Sunday, October 8th at 1:20 pm, Zoe had a fatal crash doing what she loved doing most: racing … details of what caused the crash are uncertain, but from accounts given by fellow racers, her death was immediate,” Tom Clay, her father, posted in a GoFundMe statement.

First responders to the crash scene at the King and Queen of the Watershed race were able to restart her heart via CPR, but her injuries were too severe and she died shortly thereafter.

“Due to her excellent fitness as well as being a registered organ donor, all of her major organs have been accepted,” her father added. “In true Zoe form, she will save the lives of seven people, as well as countless skin graft recipients.”

New to the sport, Clay (Velocious Sport) rose from entry level racer to the top echelon of USA women’s racing in less than a season, finishing 23rd at the USA Cycling Elite Time Trial Championship in June. Eager to improve and win, she competed in 56 road events domestically this year, while also spending part of the winter in Belgium racing cyclocross.

At press time the Zoe Clay GoFundMe campaign to help cover her medical and funeral expenses, as well as support young women in cycling, has raised over $75,000 USD.

Photo Credit: Will Hardin

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