Saul Raisin

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Saul Raisin

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image_caption =
fullname = Saul Raisin
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age |1983|01|06
country = USA
height = height|m=1.80
weight = convert|69|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
currentteam = Crédit Agricole
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = Climber
amateurteams =
amateuryears =
proyears = 2005–2007
proteams = Crédit Agricole
majorwins =
updated = November 23, 2007

Saul Raisin (born January 6, 1983 in Dalton, Georgia) is an American former professional road bicycle racer with UCI ProTeam Crédit Agricole.

Career

Raisin began racing mountain bikes at 13, and moved to road bikes when he was 17.Rich Tyler, Remarkable Twist of Fate, "Ride Cycling Review", Winter 2006, page 168.] Kristi Daughtridge, [http://www.shepherd.org/files/Spinal%20Col%20Fall%202006.pdf A Long Road: Saul Raisin's story] , "Spinal Column: The magazine of the Shepherd Center", Fall 2006, p12-13.]

Raisin had a good start to his professional career with Crédit Agricole in 2005, coming 37th in the Tour de Suisse, later having the best result of his career with a 13th place in the Int. Österreich-Rundfahrt (or Tour of Austria). He then went on to win the King of the Mountains jersey in the Tour de l'Avenir [ [http://www.letour.fr/2005/TDA/LIVE/us/1000/classement/IMG.html Tour de l'Avenir 2005 Overall Climber Standing] , "letour.fr", Accessed 2006-12-18] .

In early 2006 Raisin won the third stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi and ended the Malaysian Tour placed eleventh overall. At the 2006 Tour of California Raisin came 17th overall. He raced the Milan-Sanremo in March and on April 4th was racing in the first stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe. Two kilometres from the finish Raisin clipped a wheel, crashed and landed on his head, breaking his clavicle and hip. [ [http://circuitcycliste.sarthe.com/Site/FR/Course/Actus.asp?Annee=2006&seg=100&rub=140&id=586&CodeLangue=2 Three falls in the first stage] , "CircuitCyclist.Sarthe.com", Accessed 2006-12-17.]

2006 crash aftermath

At the hospital in Angers, France, doctors took hourly CAT scans which showed that a intracranial hemorrhage had formed in Raisin's brain. A neurosurgeon operated to relieve the pressure and had to remove part of Raisin's right temporal lobe, though Raisin's autobiography contradicts this.Fact|date=February 2008 Raisin went into a coma, emerging six days later. The hemorrhage and surgery caused significant weakness on his left side and marked memory loss.Shane Stokes, [http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2006/interviews/?id=saul_raisin_aug06 Raisin racing to recover] , "CyclingNews", August 10, 2006.] When he was stabilized he was flown from France to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He stayed in the hospital for four weeks, going through extensive therapy - including re-learning to walk and eat. Afterwards he continued his therapy at the [http://www.Shepherd.org Shepherd Center] outpatient program, Pathways.

Saul was not permitted to race for at least 18 months after his accident because "another blow to the head could be disastrous."Shane Stokes, [http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2006/interviews/?id=saul_raisin_aug062 The legacy of the crash] , "CyclingNews", August 10, 2006.] In Augustwhen, Raisin moved from indoor training on bicycle rollers to riding outside, and in late November, Raisin completed an 8 hour, 200 kilometre ride from Chatsworth, Georgia to Brasstown Bald, crossing 8 mountain passes. [Saul Raisin, [http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=43 8 hour Epic Ride!! 8heure épique roule] , "SaulRaisin.com", November 27, 2006.] In January 2007, Raisin attended the Crédit Agricole team training camp in the South of France. [Saul Raisin, [http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=290&Itemid=43 Team Camp] , "SaulRaisin.com", January 20, 2007.]

In November 2007, the Crédit Agricole team doctors stated that they could not release Saul to race. His neurological and psychiatric tests were fine, but the risk to him should he crash again is too great. [Saul Raisin, [http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=370&Itemid=43 Things To Be Thankful For..] , "SaulRaisin.com", November 22, 2007.]

Raisin's accident and initial recovery are chronicled the book "'Tour de Life: from Coma to Competition" (ISBN 0974849227) which he authored with Dave Shields. [ [http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/10/meeting-saul-ra.html] , "Garmin.com", October 3, 2007. ]

Raisin Hope ride

During the 2007 Tour of California, Saul rode each stage before the main race as a promotion of his Raisin Hope Ride [Saul Raisin, [http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=305&Itemid=43 Raisin Hope at the Tour de California powered by GU] , "SaulRaisin.com", February 22, 2007.] , a charity ride that raises money for The Shepherd Center, Camp Twin Lakes, The Brain Injury Association of Georgia and the USA Cycling Development Foundation. [Amy Smith [https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=216 Saul Raisin Raisin Hope Charity Ride] , "Sportsbaseonline.com"] The first Raisin Hope Ride was held on March 31, 2007. It is Saul's intention that the ride be run annually. [Saul Raisin, [http://www.saulraisin.com/sitemain/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=43 Raisin Hope Ride] , "SaulRaisin.com", April 2, 2007.]

Palmares

* Tour de Langkawi - 1 stage (2006)
* Tour de l'Avenir - Mountains Classification (2005)

References

External links

* [http://www.saulraisin.com/ Saul Raisin's official site]
* [http://au-veloclubdeparis.fr/ Crédit Agricole cycling team website]
* [http://www.shepherd.org/ Shepherd Center]
*trapfriis|usa.Raisin.htm

Persondata
NAME= Raisin, Saul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Former road bicycle racer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1983-01-06
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dalton, Georgia, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=