Group of cyclists injured in apparent

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Group of cyclists injured in apparent "road rage" incident

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Posted 9:58 PM 2/22/2013 : Pro cyclists fall prey to 'road rage' incident

TUCSON - A group of professional cyclists fell victim to an apparent road rage incident Friday.

A spokesman with the Tucson Police Department told News 4 Tucson that the incident occurred around 10:30a.m. near Valencia and Old Vail.

More than a dozen cyclists from the Jamis-Hagnes Berman cycling team were training in the area.

"You go on a bike and you expect to be safe... you don't expect something like this to happen," Tyler Wren said, who was leading the group and was hit by a motorist driving a silver car.

Wren said the team was riding in a 2-rider formation and clearly on the other side of the white bike lane line.

"The driver came, was coming in on the left and was yelling at us and swerved into us.. I think intentionally [and] sped off," Wren said.

Luckily the team had a car following the cyclists, who caught up with the motorist in question and snapped a photo of the license plate.

Wren sustained injuries he believed to be non-serious but told News 4 Tucson that he was feeling "a little angry" and "hurt" right before he headed to the hospital to check the extent of his injuries.

Wren said that the lightining-like reflexes of the athletes prevented more injuries.

Greg Webber, who works for Jamis Bicycles, said had the same thing happen to a casual rider, things could have turned out differently.

"The driver too was fortunate that he decided to pick on some pro riders because it easily could have been worse," Webber said.

However, in a world where cycling is Wren's entire lifestyle, he remains optimistic.

"I've seen worse things happen... A friend of mine just broke his collar bone and his scapula in a similar sort of accident," Wren said. "So it doesn't seem like I have any broken bones... So knock on wood... It came out okay.

Both Wren and Webber agree that this one incident doesn't change their opinion on the welcoming community of Tucson.

A spokesman with TPD told News 4 Tucson that a man has been taken into custody in connection with this incident.