Balance. It can be achieved by never deviating from the middle, or it can be achieved by violent swings to and fro. It is said, however, that the great peaks can’t be reached without crossing through deep valleys. Tragically, we were reminded today that our sport is one of great peaks and deep, deep valleys.
Cycling is a sport of risk and danger; the beauty and harmony of a speeding peloton masks the risks and dangers involved. Mountain descents see riders reach speeds of 80 or more kilometers per hour with little to protect them should something go wrong. Stars and watercarriers alike share in the risk; no one is immune.
You have to love this sport intensely to become a professional. The nature of road competition demands great sacrifice in every aspect of the athlete’s life; eat like birds, work like horses, and live like monks. Not only does a professional cyclist spend every waking moment focussed on their sport, but from January to October, they are away from their families as the race calendar carries them all over Europe and, increasingly, the world. This sacrifice is most often in the service of others, as the Stars are few and the Watercarriers many.
While only a few weeks ago we watched as one of these domestiques reached the pinacle of our sport by winning Paris-Roubaix, today we witnessed the tragic swing to the other end as Wouter Weylandt lost his life in the pursuit of his passion. We can be philosophical and say this man lived for his sport and died doing what he loved, but the fact of the matter is that his is a man who, at 26 years old, was in the prime of his life and that he died today is tragic beyond articulation.
As Velominati, we are disciples of cycling. Our lives revolve around cycling. At moments like these, it is unimaginable that life and sport will continue. It will, and we will again reach the peaks. But we breathe still, and our devotion cannot follow where others’ continue.
Today we walk through a valley and mourn as Velominati the tragic loss of a man who gave everything – everything – to his sport. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
Well said. Sad day indeed for cycling
Very, very well put, Frank. I did not see it as work was busy this morning; thankfully, it turns out. No desire to watch it now.
I'm also reading "The Rider" from Tim Krabbe at the moment. Between that book, applying Sur La Plaque to my life both on & off the bike, and the passing of Wouter, I think I have all I need to know about life.
Ride hard, work hard, and enjoy every rotation of the cranks, because you don't know when your number is up.
Well put. Sad and tragic and not what any sport should ever be about. RIP, WW.
truly sacrificial...
Rust in vrede
Well said Frank.
I just woke up and saw the news of this, and could not believe what I was reading. I'm in shock.
RIP Wouter.
Thank you, Frank.
I watched the coverage on Eurosport today. I thought David Harmon and Sean Kelly were duly respectful and understated. Just like the rest of us, they saw the few seconds of Italian TV showing the medics working on Weylandt. From that point on, I think Harmon and Kelly knew this wasn't just another bike racing accident. I was very proud of how they carried on through the rest of the broadcast.
I give credit to the Italian TV producer who turned off the camera feed at the accident site. Yes, we saw what happened, but the camera didn't linger. He could have been horribly disrespectful, but he wasn't.
I also give credit to the Giro organizers who cancelled today's podium ceremony. I trust they'll neutralize tomorrow's stage.
I'm a little more than shaken, and I'm having second thoughts about this evening's ride, but I'm heading out just the same. I'll see other cyclists tonight. No doubt we'll talk about Weylandt's passing. Otherwise, I think tonight's ride will be pretty quiet.
I'll say more prayers for Wouter Weylandt and his family. But honestly, I wish it hadn't happened.
@Ron
I was going to say the same thing - it is frustrating to see sites like the Huffington Post not give cycling any coverage, than treat this like some sort of snuff film. How many viewers and commentators even knew there was a major race underway? Reminds me of why I hate the media (sorry to any of you who are journalists, etc. no offense intended).
I was watching this live on Eurosport this afternoon. As ever, the camers initially closed in on the incident, but it was immediately obvious that this was far more serious than usual, and that was, thankfully, all that was shown. It became clear as the rest of the stage unfolded that things were looking bad, and it was very sad to have our worst fears confirmed after such a short time. Its hard to know what to say, but I know there are many of us out there who would have loved to have been in the peleton today, even knowing the risks. There's no one to blame,these things are, sadly, part of the game. I think Frank's post says it all. Everyone of us will be thinking about this next time we feel the wind on our faces, and the next time we are longing for a tail wind to blow us home. Remember today, but above all remember that this is still a beautiful sport. Forza Velominati.
A-Merckx to that!