2008 Rediscovery Tour
15 June 2008 - Day 30 - Copenhagen - 120 km - (2085)
Ritter Classic
Today was the longest single ride of the Tour,
and without doubt the most grueling. I was
honored to be the “celebrity guest” of
retired-Champion Danish cyclists Ole Ritter and
Jens Veggerby in the 8th Annual Ritter Classic.
This is a 120 km charity fundraising race that
drew 1200 riders. I was eager to support the Race
for several reasons. Ole Ritter, the former World
Champion, and the World Record Holder in the
distance traveled in one hour (50km), is the
Sponsor of my Bicycle for the Tour and I wanted
to appropriately thank him for designing such a
light and swift bike. I also wanted to lend Ole
and Jens, both of whom have become good friends,
my support for their terrific charitable works.
The Classic this year is raising money to benefit
two Danish causes: The Danish Cancer Society and
the Children’s Heart Fund. Riders pay a fee to
enter the race and a number of corporate sponsors
sponsor the race, The IT Factory being the largest
one in this case. The Classic was well-organized
with much media coverage, and Jens’ wife
Natasha produces a wonderful magazine for the
event that had a great article about her
“Favorite Cycling Ambassador.” I enjoy doing
all I can to promote the spirit of Corporate
Social Responsible and private philanthropy in
this country, and this is a great example of that
growing Spirit.
The weather looked threatening all day, but as we
led the pack off from the starting line the clouds
broke, and actually we had only one slight shower
during the next five hours of riding. The race
started off well, but in spite of fairly good
luck during the 1900 km of the Tour so far, I had
a flat tire immediately, at kilometer 6, and a
SECOND flat tire only a few minutes later at
kilometer 9! Not only did those two flat tires
set me behind, but at kilometer 40, I had a
WRECK! This one was totally my fault, and
fortunately was a “one bike” wreck. I was
getting a bit squeezed on a fast downhill leaving
Klampenborg on the ocean road toward Rungsted when
a car pulled out on the left. Afraid that I could
not get in to the flow of riders to pass the car
on the right, I decided in a split second to take
the car on the left on what looked like a
sidewalk. I did not realize the three-inch high
curb until it was too late, and flying into the
curb at 35 km per hour dented both of my tire
rims. Fortunately I was able to stop by a grassy
bank without falling, but the damage necessitated
a change of both of my wheels. Mick in the Van was
no where nearby, so we had to wait about 8 minutes
for him to catch up, and then it took another 4 or
5 minutes to change the wheels. So all-told, we
were at least 13 minutes behind the pack from
this wreck.
But the story of the day for me is not the two
flats, the wreck or the four tires we had to
change, it was that even with all that delay, my
unbelievable Team, which we named “Team One”,
managed to get me back into the lead pack each
time. Team One consisted of a half-dozen former
professional riders, now all retired and most of
them my age or a little older, who managed by
sheer willpower and unbelievable riding strength
to get me back up front. After the two flats, at
km 6 and 9, we were back with the pack by around
km 20. (During the first 80 km of the race there
was a pace car that regulated the speed of the
group to around 30 km; the last 40 km were wide
open). After the wreck, around km 30, we caught
up with the lead pack around km 75. But I want my
non-riding readers to understand what a feat that
was; at the speed we had been going, after a 13
minute stop we were around 7 km, almost 4 miles,
behind the group. But with a combination of great
team strategy (four riders taking turns blocking
me from the wind, ‘hop-scotching’ over one
another), and the occasional push on my back for
a little extra speed, we were able to catch up
after about 35 km. We must have averaged around
45 km when we were catching up, and having lost
the protection of the police escort that had been
stopping traffic, we had to negotiate through the
traffic and intersections, which the Team did
with great skill. I have never been so relieved
as I was to see the back of the lead pack when we
approached it near km 75. I am forever grateful to
my Team One members, Per, Ole, Thorkil, and the
gang for their heroic success in ensuring that
this Ambassador finished in a respectable
position. I do not actually know what position we
finished in, but I know that there was a great
roar from the crowd when we crossed the finish
line, and there were hundreds of riders who came
in after we crossed, so I felt it had been a
successful day. But I must admit that falling a
total of 20 minutes or so behind and the three
“sprints” to catch up took about all the
energy I had. I would not have been able to
finish at all, much less in a respectable place,
if not for the Team. I have a new appreciation
for the athleticism and strategy of the sport of
cycling.
Arriving at the finish line was a great thrill.
There was much media coverage, and word of my
“challenges’ had spread so all of them wanted
to know more about it. The stage announcer, if I
understood his Danish translation of my words
correctly, was suggesting that my
“bodyguards” had helped me to catch up.
Although Rene and Peter did a great job as Team
Members, I wanted to make sure the credit was
given where it was due, so I singled out my Team
members from the stage, and explained how heroic
their efforts had been. It was great to have a
chance to thank Ole and Jens for the honor of
riding today, and for supporting these worthy
causes. Receiving flowers and the traditional
three-kisses from the three lovely ladies on the
stage made me feel a little like Lance Armstrong.
Thanks to all of them, and thanks to my new friend
Mads. I hope you enjoy the ReDiscovery Tour coin.
And also thanks to Mom and Dad and Helen and the
girls for coming out to cheer me on!!