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Cyclists pack their luggage and get dropped off on the airport dozens of instances per yr as touring is a part of our sport. Flying out of Good-Côte d’Azur airport so usually, I had my rituals of easy methods to test in, get by way of safety, and keep snug whereas ready for the airplane to board. In early August 2004 my flight plan was from Good, France to Athens, Greece and all the things 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 noticed 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 develop into an Olympian. I used to be overcome by emotion because it has been a aim of mine for a very long time, and it was about to develop into actuality.
Stepping off the airplane and strolling by way of the airport in Athens all over the place you appeared you noticed one thing associated to the Olympic Sports and you possibly can really feel the thrill within the air.
Earlier than coming into the Olympic Athletes Village I needed to decide up my Olympic credential. I needed to fill out tons of types previous to my arrival however should admit I used to be nervous that I had made a mistake on the administration aspect and could be denied entry.
After just a few nervous minutes after handing over my passport and watching a number of individuals enter my title of their pc and test just a few lists, my image was taken, and I used to be handed my credential and lanyard that will be my all-access cross to the Olympic expertise. Now all I needed to do was discover the Group USA Biking home within the village.
The hub of the Athletes Village is the primary cafeteria. This took some navigational recon the primary few days as there have been so many selections that you just wanted to see all of the choices previous to piling meals onto your plate.
The cafeterias have been additionally an excellent place to satisfy athletes from different sports activities and commerce pins. This was my first Olympics, so I went all in with the pin buying and selling sport 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 considered one of my most valued possessions to this present day.
As cyclists, we have been allowed to exit the village to go coaching on the encompassing roads exterior the village. Each the boys’s and ladies’s groups skilled collectively, so it was fairly cool to maneuver all over the place 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 day by day with satisfaction.
Because the roads across the village have been restricted, we frequently encountered different groups whereas out coaching. We’d wave to them and maybe have a fast change of pleasantries in passing however it was a bit awkward. After all, many of those different riders have been buddies 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 street course just a few days previous to the race with closed roads for about an hour. The vibe across the begin/end was jovial, however it was a wierd feeling pedaling across the course, which in just a few days would choose the riders worthy of an Olympic medal.
Race day arrived and regardless that 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 quite than putting and I used to be going to simply float, which I did for many of the race.
There are not any race radios within the Olympic street race and communication was troublesome as a result of 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 street with a large benefit. Many riders from many alternative nations chipped in to shut the hole, however the 2 riders in entrance have been too robust.
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.
Immediately I used to be not desirous about simply taking part within the race as there was a bronze medal up for grabs and I needed to win it! There was a lull within the group and Michael Berry from Canada attacked exhausting with just a few kms to go. I figured this was my probability, so I jumped on his wheel. For a second I believed that this transfer may work and we had caught the sprinters off guard however rotated to see everybody on my wheel.
This provoked one other lull within the group as we had loads of good sprinters within the group they usually have been simply attempting to save lots of as a lot vitality as doable. Then Axel Merckx attacked exhausting up a slight rise, and nobody reacted. This was the same transfer to the one which I had simply made with Michael however may inform by his pedal stroke that Axel could be exhausting to deliver 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 street. The sprinters tried to maneuver themselves into place and shut the hole, however it was too late.
In the long run, I had wound up simply taking part within the race, ending in twenty ninth place. Axel was an excellent buddy of mine and I keep in mind watching him tower above Paulo and Sergio on the rostrum. All of them appeared so comfortable 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.
