The Prophet was very clear on how best to ride an individual Time Trial; start as fast as possible and finish as fast as possible. As for the middle, his advice was to ride that as fast as possible.
The same can be said of climbing; as we covered in Part I and Part II of the Sur La Plaque series, the key to climbing well is to hit the bottom as hard as possible, and then move into the big ring as you go over the top in order to finish the climb as fast as possible. As for the middle section; well, hit that as hard as possible and focus on keeping your momentum going.
The trouble is with this pesky notion we have of “gauging our efforts”. Certainly, the perfectly measured climb would result in riding the whole of it à bloc before moving Sur La Plaque over the top, blast down the other side and – just as you hit escape velocity – explode spectacularly, using your perfectly honed LeMond Tuck to recover in time to crush it in the valley to the next climb where you repeat the process. Panache.
Panache is a dualistic thing; almost without exception do we admire it in others, and almost without exception are we too cowardly to hold it inside ourselves. Panache doesn’t speak of caution, or of measured action. It speaks of impulse – compulsion, even – to attack despite one’s better judgement. It speaks of throwing caution to the wind. It weighs heavy with the risk of exploding magnificently and trading angel’s wings for the devil’s anchor.
But those who venture freely into that realm have blown up so many times that it hardly features in their reasoning. Pain and climbing are inseparable; what difference does it make if you blow up and suffer a bit more for a bit longer? And, should we blow up often enough, we will learn how to suffer through and push to the top with grace. And perhaps by that same grace, will we recover enough to try again on the next climb.
Vive la chance. Vive le Grimpeur. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
Exhibit A: The master of Panache, Marco Pantani. And the master of blowing with grace, Richard Virenque. For a prime example of how to blow up properly, jump to 2:00.
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That question should read more like...does it upset Tasmanians to hear Richie referred to as Australian? To me, Hawaii is part of America only in the sense of political acquisition. And Tasmania seemed a lot different to me than Australia, though I did leave from and return to Melbourne, which is just a tad bit busier and bigger.
@Chome These boys? Aren't we looking at the level playing field: best chemist/best response to product? 1971 The Prophet to Marseille
Watching the close ups of Il Pirata near the end reminded me of a movie character.....I mean no disrespect.
If Pharmstrong dies of n OD will the Velominati worship him like they do the DoPirate?
Oo...wait while I make popcorn.
Are we under troll attack?
@american psycho
The Velominati never hated Pharmy for his doping; we hate him for being such a giant douchebag. Pantani, on the other hand, kicked ass. Same with Ullrich or any other such rider from that era.
Pantani always made for great racing, something Pharmstrong eradicated from any race he participated in with clinical precision. Pantani had panache.
@Nate
Well said.
@TBONE
You too, RIP indeed.
@Cyclops
Tough talk from a guy who spent the season dangling off the back of the bunch.
@Ron
Solid gold.
@Pedale.Forchetta
I don't think so - more like a historic event. I think we might have the last vestige of an Armstrong fan left in the world! Take note, people!
@frank
Just back there showing Grimp Jr. how it's done.