To finish this Introduction of Four Stages, I wish to clarify a few misconceptions that might already be developing. Please do not think I shall be setting up pagan shrines to these cyclists like the Ancients did of old for Hercules or other quasi-divine heroes. I fully acknowledge that there are greater heroes in this present day and throughout the past, perhaps someday I shall branch out to dwell on those stories too. But when it comes to sports, cyclists are inarguably my top choice for hero material. They are the top choice, because of how they inspire me. And they inspire me because they remind me of heroes greater than them.
I speak of the people past, present, and future who have, are, or will suffer in pursuit of things greater than themselves. For the great men and women we admire and remember—the heroes from any realm you choose—creature comforts are not enough. An easy life is not for them. I speak of heroes we admire for their struggle, their determination, their bravery against all odds, their commitment to a cause greater than their own mortal-life when they fight in many realms for glory, honor, justice, beauty, excellence, a better life, their people, their family, their God. It is inspiring. I think of the young men who stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944—now an archetypal image for bravery in combat. I think of the explorers and pioneer families since the dawn of humanity who have traveled across rough oceans and all sorts of harsh landscapes to populate frontiers and tame the wild. I think about the citizens of a nation that aspire to “ask not what their country can do from them, but what they can do for their country;” the same nation who decided to go to the Moon “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” I think of people throughout history who have discerned what is right and fought the injustices of their time. I think of noble people who spend every ounce of their energy in voluntary service to better the lives of the marginalized. I think of my own tradition where holy men and women have suffered to imitate and follow the ultimate example of Christ Who has gone before them—treading The Difficult Path for the sake of all fellow Men. But as should be clear by now, I look to all the great stories from all the cultures of humanity for great heroes who took the hard road for higher purposes. Yes ultimately, we all value these same aspirations. Giraffes have long necks, mosquitos suck blood, and koalas are adorably cute, but Men look beyond themselves to greater purposes.
Thus is cycling, like all the best sports, a microcosm realm of pursuits greater than one’s self. To train, to hone their race-craft, to develop the fortitude required to race a bike pushes a person out of their comfort zone where they develop and mature physically, mentally, spiritually. The preparation is difficult in itself and many are not rewarded for their efforts with prizes. But just the desire to compete, just the will to endure grueling training sessions and harrowingly hard race experiences is surely something special, surely gives a sense of higher purpose. Thus none of these cyclists ever simply ride faster than the others or just cross the line first to win. There is always a story of determination and passion to overcome adversity and suffering to pull off a great victory…why else are there always such great celebrations from even the most modest riders when they win? And just as at the best of times in all sports, sometimes the victory is relished by more than just the winner themselves. At times, whole nations have applauded a great champion’s accomplishment. In the cycling realm the first example that comes to mind is Gino Bartali’s 1948 Tour de France victory that helped ease tensions in Italy where civil strife was on the brink of becoming civil war (events surely to be covered more in the future). But the beauty of at least modern cycling for me is that surely the individual winner absolutely never celebrates alone, because they never win alone.
For such an individual sport, it is unbelievable to see how much teams are necessary. Many riders enter the race with no intention to win themselves—a majority come to the races fully planning to sacrifice their chances for a team leader who is already an accomplished champion or is physically greater than the rest of the team. Some guard and place their leader safely among the peloton, some give the leader their bike when the leader’s breaks, some pace their leader up mountains or lead them out in the sprints, many are even humble enough to grab food and water from the car for their leader or will take back the leader’s rain jacket when the Sun shines again. And of course none of these jobs are easy, for these riders are in the same hard race that the champion wins. Thus they suffer like the champion, but their suffering receives not the same glory—sometimes not even any reward whatsoever to speak of. But sometimes the teammate’s leader wins, and the teammate completes the challenging race as well. At those times it is so satisfying and rewarding to see the celebrations; there are none more joyous than the celebrations with the ones that helped you win, the ones who suffered not only with you but for you. To endure such sufferings of a bike race especially not even for your own sake but a teammate’s, truly these are the inspiring pursuits I speak of—the ones greater than oneself. Why such riders do it shall be an eternal topic of conservation, but there is no denying I admire them for it; and I am deeply moved by their performances.
Thus, all is laid bare. If you combine the epic-ness of the sport as described in previous Stages of this Introduction, the suffering mentioned here and clear to see during any bike race, and particularly the self-sacrifice of many of the teammates: then you now know why cycling is my favorite sport. Other sports have all three elements of mythical epic, massive hardship, and teammate self-sacrifice, but it is nowhere else nearly as dramatic as it is in cycling in my opinion. And as said in previous Stages as well, no other sport so easily lends itself to be dramatized by even the simplest of storytellers. Yes, now I—one of the simple storytellers—can contain no longer these ideas in my head alone, it is unavoidable that words must spill out onto a page and my written thoughts shall be transmitted out orally across cutting-edge mediums of technology. So now at last, this opening stage race of Introductions is complete. Let us now move on. At last, let the chronicling of great deeds done on two wheels begin!
Cycling Odysseys 