Bicyclist on Sunday ride gave tire to Ironman racer who rode over tacks

photo Lance Stewart was biking near the Ironman course Sunday when a cyclist's tires were popped by the tacks in Walker County, Ga. Stewart willingly swapped his tire with the Ironman competitor, allowing him to finish eighth in his age group.

When Chattanooga resident Lance Stewart skipped church to go for a bike ride on Sunday, he didn't know he'd be changing the fate of one man's Ironman race.

One competitor had ridden over tacks scattered by a saboteur on the route near Chickamauga, Ga., which resulted in a flat tire.

In his 15 Ironman races and dozens of other competitions, the racer said, he'd only gotten a flat once before. He said he couldn't give his name or he'd be disqualified.

"I had seen the support vehicles go the other way," the rider said of the race personnel fixing flat tires. "None of them were stopping."

For 22 miles, he rode on a flat tire.

Meanwhile Stewart, pedaling along on his own ride, intersected the Ironman course.

"I didn't intend to even see the Ironman race really," he said. "I just stumbled upon the intersection where the roads were closed."

He stopped at the front of the crowd to wait for the bikes to pass, and the racer was in the pack.

"I saw him in the outskirts of the Chickamauga area," the racer said. "I biked up to him and asked if I could get some help."

The racer asked for Stewart's bicycle tire, to replace his own flat. Stewart said at first he was hesitant, but then he agreed. The racer took his tire and rode off.

"He said just to look him up [after the race]," Stewart said. "All I had was his [race] number."

And the two did meet up after the race. Stewart looked up the racer on Facebook, and the two were able to connect at the hotel where the racer was staying. There, Stewart got his tire back.

"He said he wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for me," Stewart said. "He said it just meant a lot to him."

The racer said he finished the race close to the top 100.

He said the two spent almost an hour talking about Stewart's family, the race and life in general. They haven't spoken since the race, but Stewart said he won't soon forget the event that brought them together.

"We're definitely friends for life," he said.

Contact staff writer Hannah Smith at hsmith@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6731.

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