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Cyclists pack their luggage and get dropped off on the airport dozens of occasions per yr as touring is a part of our sport. Flying out of Good-Côte d’Azur airport so typically, I had my rituals of the way to verify in, get by way of safety, and keep comfy whereas ready for the airplane to board. In early August 2004 my flight plan was from Good, France to Athens, Greece and every part felt acquainted as I used to be simply on one other flight to a different bike race.
Because the airplane gained altitude, we broke by way of the clouds and a superb ray of sunshine got here by way of my window which felt like a faucet on the shoulder. It was the second that I spotted that I wasn’t simply going to a different bike race however as a substitute was headed to the Olympic Video games and was about to turn out to be an Olympian. I used to be overcome by emotion because it has been a purpose of mine for a very long time, and it was about to turn out to be actuality.
Stepping off the airplane and strolling by way of the airport in Athens in all places you regarded you noticed one thing associated to the Olympic Video games and you can really feel the thrill within the air.
Earlier than getting into the Olympic Athletes Village I needed to decide up my Olympic credential. I needed to fill out tons of varieties previous to my arrival however should admit I used to be nervous that I had made a mistake on the administration facet and could be denied entry.
After a number of nervous minutes after handing over my passport and watching a number of individuals enter my identify of their laptop and verify a number of lists, my image was taken, and I used to be handed my credential and lanyard that might be my all-access go to the Olympic expertise. Now all I needed to do was discover the Staff USA Biking home within the village.
The hub of the Athletes Village is the principle cafeteria. This took some navigational recon the primary few days as there have been so many decisions that you just wanted to see all of the choices previous to piling meals onto your plate.
The cafeterias have been additionally a terrific place to fulfill athletes from different sports activities and commerce pins. This was my first Olympics, so I went all in with the pin buying and selling recreation and got here away with a pleasant assortment over the few days that I had within the village. Every interplay was not simply concerning the pin itself, however the story of the individual you have been buying and selling with. I wore them proudly on my lanyard and it’s one in every of my most valued possessions to this present day.
As cyclists, we have been allowed to exit the village to go coaching on the encircling roads exterior the village. Each the lads’s and girls’s groups skilled collectively, so it was fairly cool to maneuver in all places as a group. Some riders elected to journey of their regular commerce group clothes for coaching, however I used to be so pleased with making the Olympic group that I wore the USA package on daily basis with satisfaction.
For the reason that roads across the village have been restricted, we frequently encountered different groups whereas out coaching. We might wave to them and maybe have a fast trade of pleasantries in passing nevertheless it was a bit awkward. In fact, many of those different riders have been pals or teammates the remainder of the yr, however for these few days they have been the competitors.
We have been allowed to do a full recon of the highway course a number of days previous to the race with closed roads for about an hour. The vibe across the begin/end was jovial, nevertheless it was a wierd feeling pedaling across the course, which in a number of days would choose the riders worthy of an Olympic medal.
Race day arrived and although I used to be excited, I wasn’t very nervous. I used to be by no means a one-day specialist, so didn’t put any strain on myself. My focus was extra of participation moderately than inserting and I used to be going to simply flow, which I did for a lot of the race.
There aren’t any race radios within the Olympic highway race and communication was troublesome because of the noise going by way of the feed zones, however with about two laps to go, I turned conscious that there have been two guys up the highway with a large benefit. Many riders from many various international locations chipped in to shut the hole, however the 2 riders in entrance have been too sturdy.
The one factor that issues within the Olympics are medals, so after cresting the climb for the ultimate time the racing quickly turned a race for the bronze medal and an actual tactical battle began.
All of the sudden I used to be not inquisitive about simply taking part within the race as there was a bronze medal up for grabs and I wished to win it! There was a lull within the group and Michael Berry from Canada attacked arduous with a number of kms to go. I figured this was my probability, so I jumped on his wheel. For a second I believed that this transfer would possibly work and we had caught the sprinters off guard however circled to see everybody on my wheel.
This provoked one other lull within the group as we had loads of good sprinters within the group and so they have been simply attempting to avoid wasting as a lot vitality as doable. Then Axel Merckx attacked arduous up a slight rise, and nobody reacted. This was an analogous transfer to the one which I had simply made with Michael however may inform by his pedal stroke that Axel could be arduous to carry again.
The ultimate km was a blur as now we couldn’t solely see Axel, but in addition Paulo Bettini and Sergio Paulinho (eventual gold and silver medalists) barely additional up the highway. The sprinters tried to maneuver themselves into place and shut the hole, nevertheless it was too late.
Ultimately, I had wound up simply taking part within the race, ending in twenty ninth place. Axel was good friend of mine and I keep in mind watching him tower above Paulo and Sergio on the rostrum. All of them regarded so blissful and chic up there with olive department wreaths on their heads and medals round their neck. The course round Athens had chosen the three riders worthy of changing into Olympic medalists and the remainder of us may solely dream about what that should really feel like.
