Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mt Hood Classic Photo ©: Swift |
 |
Wrenchin' in the USA: The Chris Davidson diary 2005
Chris Davidson is a mechanic for Shimano Multi-Service doing neutral tech support at road and mountain bike races..
Chris' diary entries show us what life is like inside the pits and give an insight into the mind of a mechanic.
Giro della Toscana - Italy, September 13-18, 2005
Into the night...
|
Last I wrote it was midday yesterday and we had just finished a morning stage on a double-stage day. Last night, we headed to the town of Campi Bisenzio for a circuit race to start at 9:00pm. When we got there, a good crowd had started to form and it looked like any night-time criterium in the USA. The girls got ready and we headed for the start line.
On the line, there was a rumor going round that the race would be neutralized do to the lack of light and the potential for danger. Confusion abounded, but the race rolled off under the premise that it was to be an exhibition for the crowd. It proceeded that way for the first 40 minutes, and as they got five to go I headed back to the car with my spare wheels and tools to lighten my load and prepare for the riders to arrive. In the next 20 minutes, some interesting stuff went down. I could only see some of this due to my distance from the course and the lack of light.
|
It appears that one rider, a Brazilian on an Italian team, decided that she was not going to do the neutral ride to the finish and attacked with five to go. She quickly built a huge lead on the 3k course. At two laps to go, the whole field stopped on the start/finish line to protest further, while the Brazilian kept going, forcing herself through the stopped field at the start/finish line. The rest of the pack rode the last two laps and Bronzini declared that her team would not start tomorrow in protest. The Brazilian was declared the winner and finished many minutes up on the field.
In the end not much was clear. Three things struck me about this fiasco:
1. This Brazilian will probably not start today; she is going to end up in the ditch straight away if she does. She should probably be careful at World's as well, as many were upset with her actions. She will probably never get another contract to ride in Europe.
2. No one was happy last night; the riders, managers and crowd were all disgusted with the turn of events.
3. It was a very late night for all, especially after a double-stage day. Not good for the next two days of racing.
I am sure that this incident will be reported widely elsewhere, with various angles on what happened. In the end, it was not a good night for women's cycling
A road stage today with an afternoon start. Tomorrow, I start the drive to Madrid, as soon as the stage is finished.
Chris Davidson
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Chris Davidson
- The moon over the village center in Campi Bisenzio
- The field parades around the course until chaos erupts with five laps to go.
