Last Saturday while most of the 3000+ riders at Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge in New Zealand were finishing the 161km gran fondo, 50 diehard roadies were competing in a 322km enduro version – including Tod Penberthy.

But 8 hours and 200km into the race an errant driver ran into Penberthy with a sport utility vehicle, hitting the 67 year-old with a side mirror at a high rate of speed – around 90 km/h.

“It was shit driving,” he told Stuff news. “It’s an open road, but I had a helmet and lights and all the reflective gear, and she just f—ing messed it all up.”

The driver stopped to render aid and emergency crews transported Penberthy to hospital in Taupo with six broken ribs and a deep laceration (down to the bone) in his right arm. He was then evacuated via medical helicopter to Tauranga Hospital for emergency surgery, where he is currently recovering and looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

Ironically, results show Penberthy finishing 22nd overall and 2nd in his age group… seems his bike (and timing chip) crossed the finish line in the back of a police car with a final time of 12:52:01.

Photo Credit: Facebook/tod.penberthy1

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