Indian Pacific Wheel Race - IndyPac - IPWR

I think there may be some bad news... hopefully all okay, this is where Mike is:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/traffic-diversions-after-serious-incident-on-monaro-highway-20170330-gvaggs.html

Apparently it's a motorcycle - Mike's just having a final snooze

That sounds extremely ominous. As you say, it's exactly where his tracker spot is right now, not moving.

The most ominous is the full road closure they appear to have implemented, judging by the diversions. They only do that when it's a very serious collision and there has to be forensic work, I think.

It feels very bad. :(

Apparently it's a motorcycle - Mike's just having a final snooze

OK, so it may be a really badly-timed coincidence. Fingers crossed for the motorcyclist.

I really hope that that is true. The timing of the traffic incident matches reasonably closely to the timing on Mikes tracker.

Emergency Services were called to the incident in southern ACT around 6.30am.

Mike arrived at his current location at 06:22 and has been stationary since then. Perhaps he's just stuck behind the other accident? Fingers crossed everything is ok.

Perhaps he got there just as it happened and was a witness, or is just waiting for the road to re-open?

It's all possible, hopefully there'll be fuller facts soon.

UPDATE: Traffic diversions remain in place after a serious crash near #Royalla. Police plan to address the media shortly. #CBR @WINNews_ACT pic.twitter.com/Gg120rB6eW

— Michael Hammond (@mhammond7) March 30, 2017

Indeed. His tracker is marked as "stopped"... @bananaskid you've used the spot trackers, do you need to press the button to register as stopped or is it automatic?

Also this link (http://www.snarl.com.au/incidents/suburb/nsw/williamsdale) suggests the accident may be a bit further up but not sure how accurate it is.

I think Mike has a fancy one that sends out messages and such. Apparently he told Anna he was planning to stop for a sleep at the approximate time his tracker stopped.

Whatever, this is still a sad piece of news. Praying it isn't Mike of course, but it is still someone. https://twitter.com/mhammond7/status/847584253743292416

Fuck

1 Attachment

Horrible to see it confirmed as a fatality.

^^ This is just awful.

I'm hoping that Mike is okay. Awful.

http://road.cc/content/news/220116-rider-killed-indian-pacific-wheel-race

Rumours of devastating news are circulating. Not looking good.

It could of course have been someone who went out to meet Mike as he rode through, but still nothing concrete has been publicised beyond the fact that someone has died while riding a bike.

Please, if it was Mike, let no-one say 'he died doing something he loved'. I've never understood why some people think that can mitigate grief. It's just something we say to feel less helpless in the face of death.

His tracker is now moving at 100 km/h+. Bad, bad news. Fuck.

Facebook talking like it's confirmed. Is it Mike? Please no.

Edit: ABC also confirming Indy Pac rider.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-31/cyclist-killed-on-road-south-of-canberra/8403812?pfmredir=sm

This is so awful.

It's seems it's the case. IPWR cancelled.

Rest in power Mike

My God - in the prime of life. A humble and decent man.

Utterly horrible, and unbelievably sad.

Fuck. RIP Mike.

Truly tragic. RIP Mike.

This is terrible. Audax Club Hackney beers yesterday with someone who was lovingly talking about his first TCR later this year. RIP Mike Hall.