I have so many stories from France. Some, great and some, not so great. But
doesn’t this happen to everyone?
Time to be critical. I’ve built up the rapport to be able to speak my
mind.
I’ve read a lot of blogs in my time, especially when I was in France, mainly
due to my dormant to-do list, when throwing pine cones at a swing’s framework
was popular recreation. One consistent thing kept on bugging me.
Well, two things. The first was excuses, although I sympathetic and easy
on people who use them. Any great performer makes excuses in order to keep
themselves motivated; even though at some stages, everyone else is thinking,
“They’re just shite”
And thus, I am okay with so-and-so’s reasons for why so-and-so didn’t do
well in the this-and-that race. Someday, so-and-so might become a great, and
it’s because of those excuses that they moved on, so that they could be great.
Excuses are how you cope.
Coping. This leads me onto my next point. Up-and-down. Oscillations. I
was guilty of it myself:
Every single end-of-season report/interview/status update/smoke signal
has the words ‘up-and-down’ in it, as if it’s a surprising thing to occur
during your season!
Mark Cavendish, love him or hate him, is rather good at his job. I
prefer to listen to paint dry than hear him speak, but he can fairly ride a
two-wheeled cycle.
The most wins he had in a year is twenty-four: a serious amount of time
with your hands in the air. This was in 2009 when he was with HTC. In that year,
he had 82 race days, meaning he won 29% of the races he was entered into.
A world class cyclist only wins a minority of the races he is entered
into on his peak year, and spends the remaining 71% of races grovelling and
wondering why he is in this cruel sport.
After reading that case study, you can see why I am frustrated by
reading the word’s up-and-down on people’s timelines. It’s part of the sport!
The only way you are going to have a consistent season, is if you are
consistently shit. My point is, be thankful for those ups and savour them, as
that is what this sport is all about.
You grovel, you curse, you sweat, and you suffer.
If you get across that line first, you were the smartest on the day. You
were the strongest on the day. You gain ownership of that day:
‘That was the day I won that race in the middle of nowhere.’
They may come few and far between at some points, but the highs are what
make the sport. That ecstasy you’ve been training towards. That five seconds
which felt like 10minutes are why you ride your bike.
Looking ahead to the future, it’s pretty likely that I’ll be going back
out to France in 2015. I look forward to arguing with them in the races again,
and having a crack at their swear words.
I also hope to get a bit more ride time in the coveted emerald jersey of
the national team. I’m going into the winter motivated, and wiser than 2013. In
2015 I have a lot I want to do. My legs will do all the talking.
I look forward to another up and down season next year.
It was a pleasure to write this strung-out 2014 blog and I hope you
enjoyed reading it. If you are interested in rewarding me for my blog, I would
appreciate a cult created in full support of me and my actions. That will be
all.
peace
DS
