Search teams have stood down the effort to find longtime Boulder County masters racer William “Bill” McGinley after he failed to return from a Wednesday training ride in Louisville, Colorado.
McGinley, 72, was last seen near the intersection of Eisenhower Drive and South Boulder Road at approximately 08:40 on Wednesday, heading toward the Harper Lake/Coyote Run Open Space Trail. He was riding a white Specialized gravel bike and wearing a dark blue jersey, black shorts, white socks and white shoes.
After being alerted by McGinley’s son, Nathan James, the Louisville Police Department initiated a search and asked the public’s for help locating the missing rider, with local bike shops and cyclists offering to organise search efforts.
On Friday the Boulder County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death of McGinley, who was found on a gravel path in the Coyote Run Open Space area on Thursday. The office did not release any information on the cause or manner of death.
McGinley was a familiar face in the Colorado masters peloton for more than a decade, racing for the elite Boulder Orthopedics team in criteriums, road races, time trials and hill climbs throughout the state. His results included third place at the Deer Trail Road Race and top-10 finishes at events including the Guanella Pass Hill Climb, the Colorado Time Trial Championships and the Colorado State Championship Road Race.
Before retiring, McGinley was a professor of Literacy Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The Louisville Police Department has not released further details pending the coroner’s findings. Gran Fondo Daily News will update this story as more information becomes available.
Photo Credit: Nathan James
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