I was able to watch the final stage yesterday on-line in the Durango airport because my flight was delayed. It would have been great if Levi Leipheimer had won again this year but Rogers and Zebriskie gave a great race, right to the end. And George Hincapie? Boy, I would have loved to have seen him win the final stage but his efforts were incredible none-the-less. It was a very exciting race, indeed.
Okay, enough of me sounding like some cycling Super Fan. I'm really not. I've watched the Tour of California all five years in a row because it's in, you know, California! And I keep up with the Tour de France each year because it's, you know, the Tour de France! I'm familiar with the big-name American riders. But my knowledge of the various teams and my grasp of racing strategy is pretty minimal. I just like to watch.
Seeing all of these riders who I've never heard of, know nothing about, giving it their all for 8 stages made me think about the fact that Bike Racing Is Their Job. It's What They Do.
It's their job because they work hard, have natural ability and some company is willing to pay them to race. For most of these guys, their purpose is to help stronger teammates win. Maybe they'll nab a stage victory in some tour or another along the way. Or get to claim King of the Mountain. But mostly they just get on the bike and do the best they can for the team. Never really tasting celebrity (Lance!) or notoriety (Floyd!). Just doing their thing for as long as possible and hopefully not injuring themselves in the process.
How cool, right? Life is so amazing to me. We can do what we want in life. We really can. It's not just about the desk job and the mortgage and the kids and the annual vacation. Except when it is and that's cool, too. The point is, don't hold anything back!
As they say in the Soaps, "You've only got One Life To Live....." Bring It!
I Can't Believe I Did It of the Day:
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