The celebrations surrounding Stetina’s Paydirt gravel race in Carson City, Nevada, USA, were tempered this week after the local sheriff’s office — not the organiser — disclosed that a competitor suffered serious injuries during the event on Saturday, 16 May 2026, requiring an emergency airlift to hospital.
After being notified by other competitors of the incident, Carson City Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit (CCSSAR) responded to the injured racer, who was found seriously injured and in shock. Douglas County Search and Rescue also arrived to provide further assistance, and the cyclist was subsequently airlifted to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno by Battle Born Medevac. The injured rider’s partner and their bikes were transported by a CCSSAR ground unit to the start-finish staging area at Fuji Park.
CCSSAR annually supports Paydirt, deploying a command unit, Jeeps, quad ATVs, and side-by-sides throughout the Brunswick Canyon area to assist riders experiencing injuries or mechanical breakdowns. In addition to the airlifted rider, several other cyclists were treated for minor abrasions, while others suffering mechanical failures were transported out of the remote canyon.
The identity of the injured rider has not been publicly disclosed, and their current condition remains unknown.
The incident occurred on the same day that New Zealander Samara Sheppard claimed the women’s elite title and Justin Peck edged Kyle Ward and Lachlan Morton — separated by just 35 seconds — for the men’s overall victory on the 71-mile course through the Pine Nut Mountains.
The mixed-terrain course, featuring pavement, gravel, and sand, is organised by professional gravel racer Peter Stetina and staged from Fuji Park, with the remote nature of Brunswick Canyon underscoring the extreme logistical challenges of managing rider safety across the rugged high-desert terrain.
Gran Fondo Daily News extends its best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the injured rider.
Photo Credit: CCSSAR
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