Categories: RacingReverenceThe HardmenTradition

Reverence: The Ghosts of 2am

Off the back is the worst place to be. Photo: Tim De Waele TDWsport.com

The Prophet had never been dropped by anyone in a race-threatening situation during his entire Grand-Tour career. But he was dropped on this, a relatively minor climb to Pra Loup due to a combination of circumstances involving a chest injury, overconfidence, and savvy Frenchmen who could read the road surface well enough to understand what side of the road to attack on.

He had never lost the Tour, but Merckx was dropped on the short but steep climb to Pra Loup and refused to quit the Tour in 1975 because you don’t quit the Tour de France. He would rather lose than quit. These are the sentiments of a champion who has not only known, but become intimately accustomed to, the sensation of victory: reverence for the race he once dominated and the one he can not quit.

He came second, and thereby legitimized Bernard Thevenet’s victory. Reverence.

For non-Velominati Americans, Cycling is the Tour. From Greg LeMond – the only American to win the Tour three times, to Lance Armstrong – the only American to lose the Tour seven times all at once, to Floyd Landis – whose legacy was too short to excite the American Public but long enough to take down the greatest legacy in Sports History.

Tejay Van Garderen was sitting solid in 3rd place when he fell ill and had to quit the Tour de France, something no rider does with a light heart. So long as your name isn’t Mario Cipollini. Dropped every time the ride pointed uphill, he had little choice but to climb off. I have had races ripped from my grasp when I was at my peak for reasons I couldn’t control and, to this day, they are there when the Ghosts of 2am come knocking. I can only imagine what Tejay is thinking tonight.

Nothing feels as good as winning, and nothing haunts you as deeply as quitting. To quote a legendary cheater, “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever.” Which just goes to prove that just because you’re an asshole doesn’t mean you’re wrong.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next On Rule #41: Garbage Collectors »

Previous « On Rule #81: Crash Test Dummies

View Comments

TheVid says:

Jul 23 2015 at 9:45 am

Even though I'm not a Brit, I agree that the Yates brothers are the next GT up-and-comers. A few more years are needed for them though. Talansky has great promise, but I think he needs a stronger squad to back him. I love Ryder (I am Canadian after all), but Andrew needs more than one GT lieutenant to have a real shot.

BMC sent a stellar squad this year, and I have no doubt that TvG would have held on to a podium spot if he could have stayed healthy. Here's hoping for a quick mental recovery for him.
chris says:

Jul 23 2015 at 10:37 am

@frank

Possibly, but no one else put time into him like that in a GT that he won. 8' 42".

I think Ocana has killed all of us today, just like bulls are killed by el Cordobes.
oldensteel says:

Jul 23 2015 at 11:15 am

While watching TJ slowly dying up one of the clinbs, the camera angle showed the ground beside him and in his shadow, I swear I saw "The Man with the Hammer". A short while later, he was in the car. I think the Hammer claimed 6 on the day.
unversio says:

Jul 23 2015 at 11:33 am

skratch labs posted this:

"...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." T.R.
DeKerr says:

Jul 23 2015 at 12:35 pm

"One does not simply ride to Pra Loup" - bastardized internet meme
Matt says:

Jul 23 2015 at 1:47 pm

@The Oracle

Nothing spoke more of TVG’s devastation at having to abandon than when he collapsed into the BMC staff’s arms when he stopped. At that moment, you could feel all the misery, the pain, and the disappointment. Of all the “human” moments of this years tour, I think those images will stick with me the longest.

Couldn't have said it any better. I managed to tune in just as that was happening. I obviously wasn't aware of the shape he was in previous to that, but as soon as I saw the BMC guys holding him I knew he was wrecked. I think that image will stay with me as well.
Chickenmcnasty says:

Jul 23 2015 at 1:47 pm

@unversio

It's the best way that I would know how to summarize it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But in the end is so much better than being apathetic.

I'm quickly discovering that being at the end of yourself is the essence of cycling. It's the worst thing in the world, but I'm strangely addicted to it.
Bespoke says:

Jul 23 2015 at 2:07 pm

@unversio

skratch labs posted this:

“…The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” T.R.

Nice. Do you know who the T.R. is referring to?
Chickenmcnasty says:

Jul 23 2015 at 2:12 pm

@Bespoke

Theodore Roosevelt. awesome fella that one.
Bespoke says:

Jul 23 2015 at 2:25 pm

@Chickenmcnasty

@Bespoke

Theodore Roosevelt. awesome fella that one.

Thanks.

I have a soft spot for those who have tried but failed. Sometimes there are physical limitations. His relative FDR, certainly knew about those.