well, since i got out of work early today i thought i would head out for some super duper winter riding.
checked the weather channel - wind chill factor of 13... hmmmmm.... think i'll ride the rollers.
decide (by chance) to watch stage 13 of the 2004 tour de france on my extended dvd - which means two hours of pure joy watching a really a really cool mountain stage.
at the begining of the stage, thomas voeckler is in yellow - a newbie to the tour that, by chance and good form, found himself with the leaders jersey. went from a nobody to a somebody within a few days. his parents fly in just to see him. all of france is going nuts with a frenchman in yellow.
approximately 7 climbs in this stage - and voeckler gets dropped on every one. then fights his way back and rejoins the main group. the look on his face is one of pure pain as he gets dropped, relief when he rejoins. nobody even expects him to be with the leading group on the last climb - but he has the power of yellow and about a 3 minute lead on lance.
lance makes his jump, basso goes with him and lance wins the stage. voeckler - suffering in the heat, battles on - and stays in yellow for another day by less then 30 seconds. as he comes in, the crowd is going nuts.
my point here - never doubt yourself because that is where the seeds of failure begins.
sologoat out
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