In June, Lancaster’s Intelligencer Journal carried a feature article about Chad Gerlach, a California cyclist of great talent who had abandoned cycling in 2002 when he fell into a life of crack addiction and alcoholism on the streets. After five years, in which he was twice stabbed, Gerlach successfully went through and intervention program and had recovered. He began riding and within months was challenging pros.
The Lancaster article appeared shortly before Gerlach raced in the Race Avenue criterium for the Italian Amore e Vita cycling team. He was narrowly edged out at the line and took second in the pro/1/2/3 race.
Last week, the Sacremento Bee, Gerlach’s hometown newspaper carried an article that the cyclist had again picked up a bottle and was again living on the streets.
