Athens Twilight Grid Qualifiers

I had very low expectations for this race seeing as I have terrible power beyond 5 minutes of all out effort, but I still did not want to go out a look like a fool. I wanted to go just hard enough to open my legs up for tomorrows race, and still not getting last place while wearing a pro teams jersey. Apparently I'm destined to look like a joker.

I didn't get last but it was a real struggle in the competition. The format of this race is that they have eight stationary bikes set up on a stage. The "trainers" as they are called are hooked up to a computer program that simulates the terrain of tomorrows race, it moderates the resistance on the wheels to simulate the hills and descents that are on the Athens Criterium course.

Why the hell would the do that when the trainers are set up on the very same roads that the race goes over tomorrow? good question! I think that it is simply because it is easier to organize an event that doesn't move, and it makes for an interesting shift from the norm.... but mostly the easier part.

These races are qualifiers for tomorrows event in that the higher you place in the trainer race, the better (closer to front of the pack) you get to start in tomorrow nights race, and with 200 racers on a 1k course, a front row starting position is prime real estate.

I wasnt to worried about the event because I am pretty good at moving through the pack. I assume that no matter where I start, I will be in the top ten after 5 laps. Thats just how I roll. Nevertheless, a good starting position makes for less energy expenditure on avoidable hurdles.

From another perspective, it was awesome to be a spectator tonight. Rarely do I get to be a part of the crowd who is hollering at the bike racers as they push themselves further than what appears healthy.

Two of my teammates made the "finals", which was a championship round of the top 8 guys that went off at 9pm. It was crazy! There were about a thousand people screaming for 7 minutes as those riders of the stage went from cool and collected at minute 0 all the way down to what looked like the deepest darkest inescapable pain cave. It was incredible to watch how all of their energy was directed straight into spinning that rear wheel. The fastest guys were the ones that looked like they were going the easiest... go figure.

It was awesome. I captured this photo of will in the later moments of the race. He looks like he would rather be dead right now that continue putting himself through that agony. I know the feeling and I'm still trying to figure out what it is that motivates me to defy my humanly instinct, which is to stop doing what is physically hurting me, but instead I just to go even harder because I know other people are hurting just as bad. Ohh what stupid games we humans play.

The last photo shows you what it is like being behind the stage looking out onto the crowds. Its and awesome feeling to have that many people screaming at you. Tomorrow is my day. The weather looks like its going to be a wet one, but all that means is that the pavement will be softer when everyone else lands on it. I want to start the season with the respect in the peleton that I think that I deserve, and there is no better way to take that seat than to go out and show them that Im not fucking around anymore. This is a new season and I am a new rider. Its gonna be like when Happy Gilmore learned how to putt, this seasons already been won.