Ear to the ground

“It’s like the BP oil spill. I just can’t seem to plug the hole.”

– A frijoles-loving Durangoan during a bitter bout of winter flatulence

Off road in Vail

A bicycle boycott of Vail is taking shape. Cyclists the world over are in an uproar after a recent sentencing in a hit and run case, and Durango’s Bob Roll is among those calling on pedalers to give Eagle County a pass.

On July 3, Martin Erzinger, a wealthy fund manager with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, plowed his Mercedes into cyclist Dr. Steven Milo. Erzinger’s car left the road and went onto the grass before striking the Vail doctor. Milo sustained injuries including damage to his spinal cord, bleeding from his brain and a broken scapula and knee. Erzinger promptly fled the scene.

Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert (who is best knowm for his failed prosecution of L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant) originally pressed for a felony charge against the fund manager. However, the New York man caught a break in December when Hurlbert dropped the charge to a misdemeanor and claimed he did not want to harm Erzinger’s corporate standing with too stiff a punishment.

“Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger’s profession,” he said before letting the man walk with the equivalent of a shoplifting charge. Curiously, Erzinger maintained his innocence throughout the trial and claimed he had no idea that he’d struck Milo. The fact that he called Mercedes roadside assistance shortly after the collision proved to be particularly damning evidence.

The misdemeanor has people all over the world in an uproar and there is a widespread call for a boycott of Vail as well as stage 4 of the Quiznos Pro Challenge, a time trial which will run through the resort Aug. 25. Durangoan, Versus TV commentator and cycling legend Bob Roll is among the loudest voices in the call.

“Something stinks in Vail,” Bobke told BikeRadar. “The ‘law and order’ DA throws the book at one and all except a hyper rich stock broker who was seen to run over a cyclist and leave him for dead?” Roll then added, “The smell from Vail is best avoided by not visiting.”

Lining up for Quiznos

Boycott or no boycott, some of the world’s best riders will be lining up at the Quiznos Pro Challenge. Though the race will be giving Southwest Colorado a pass, many of the world’s top cycling teams have already signed on for the August stage race.

Already confirmed for the race are Team RadioShack (USA), Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy), HTC-Highroad (USA), Slipstream Sports/Garmin-Cervelo (USA), and BMC Racing Team (USA).