The race course was amazing with lots of technical sections and steep run-ups. I was leading the race heading into the final lap and hit a rock which caused an instant blow out on the front wheel. It was mid-lap and I had to run the remaining lap before receiving a wheel change in the pit. My teammates pulled together and changed the wheel and I re-mounted and ran up "The Wall." Things were looking promising with a fresh wheel - but I struck another rock on the descent and the wheel lost all pressure immediately. The fresh tire held up as I rode it without air pressure and many riders began passing me on the descent. Overall, the racing conditions were beautiful and the riders put on a good performance all around - nice work Altezza40.
Here is an excerpt from Lance Armstrong's book - It's Not About The Bike
It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life, not only the longest race in the world but also the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic. It poses every conceivable element to the rider, and more: cold, heat, mountains, plains, ruts, flat tires, high winds, unspeakably bad luck, unthinkable beauty, yawning senselessness, and above all a great, deep self-questioning. During our lives we're faced with so many different elements as well, we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope... ~LA
I will submit a full race report with some race images tonight or tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
2 comments:
The course was tough, but I especially appreciate your perspective after the race -- preliminarily placed 19th. "No excuses. Sometimes shit happens." That is the kind of composure we should have everyday.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for coming out to the race yesterday - it was nice to have so much support on the course. Anyway, the organizers messed up on the placings and I moved up to 16th place and currently sit at 2nd overall in the series, so there's hope ;) The mechanicals happen and it's nice to have them now and then to remind us things can happen which are out of our control - coping with them is the challenge.
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