GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (BRAIN) — According to web postings by a friend, veteran pro road, mountain bike and cyclocross racer Steve Tilford died early Wednesday following a vehicle crash on I-70 near the Colorado/Utah border. Tilford was about 57.
Tilford, who lived in Topeka, Kansas, began racing at age 14 and never stopped. He won numerous national titles in three disciplines and represented the US on several world championships teams. He is a member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
In recent years he has continued racing and finishing in the money, sometimes in age group categories but just as often with pros decades younger than him. On his blog, he gave an insider's look at pro racing along with insightful and uncompromising views on doping and other issues in the sport.
Tilford's friend Vincent Davis was driving with him when the accident occurred, according to postings on Tilford's blog and on Davis' Facebook page. Davis updated Tilford's blog Wednesday morning with news of the crash and said Tilford's dog Tucker, who was in the vehicle, had run off after the crash but was later found. Davis said he was also injured but was treated at the Grand Junction hospital and released.
A preliminary news report on the Salt Lake Tribune website says that two semi-trailers and a Mercedes van were involved in the accident in which two people died.
Tilford's blog apparently went offline early Wednesday, likely due to a traffic overload.
Friends and fans quickly grieved Tilford's passing on social media, including Twitter.
