Sport
Cycling - the only sacrificial team sport?
25/08/08 18:46
It’s the end
of the Olympics and I miss them already. Being a
cyclist has made these games even better for me with
hero Chris “(the real Mc)Hoy” winning 3 golds, never
mind the rest of the cycling teams’ achievements!
Seeing people reach and surpass dreams that they have
sweated long and hard for is always something to
behold.
I was thrilled to see Nicole Cooke win our first Gold at the games (and the first for GB women in road cycling ever) in the women’s 126.4km road race. Nicole was joined by her GB team-mates Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws in the race.
Something came to me at the end of this event. What would the conversation be like for Emma and Sharon when in the future people find out they were in the Olympics - and ask “what position did you come?”
Sharon would answer “35th” and Emma “23rd” (at this time, Emma was still to win Silver in the time trial). Not so impressive I suppose... but wait a minute - both Sharon and particularly Emma contributed massively to Nicole’s win! Nicole rode a very canny race sheltering within the pack until the right moment came. It was Emma that spent her energy chasing down the breakaways. Sharon crashed in the torrential rain but still made her contribution.
Thinking of this it struck me. I think cycling is the only sport where you actually sacrifice your chance of winning for your team-mate on a regular basis. I can’t think of another one (if you can please let me know).
Nicole Cooke acknowledged her team-mates efforts but this was lost all too quickly. The sacrifices that Emma and Sharon made remind me of some great leaders. The ones who sacrifice of themselves so others succeed and get the recognition, smile and move on to the next opportunity to support someone in their quest. Long may this spirit live on.
I was thrilled to see Nicole Cooke win our first Gold at the games (and the first for GB women in road cycling ever) in the women’s 126.4km road race. Nicole was joined by her GB team-mates Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws in the race.
Something came to me at the end of this event. What would the conversation be like for Emma and Sharon when in the future people find out they were in the Olympics - and ask “what position did you come?”
Sharon would answer “35th” and Emma “23rd” (at this time, Emma was still to win Silver in the time trial). Not so impressive I suppose... but wait a minute - both Sharon and particularly Emma contributed massively to Nicole’s win! Nicole rode a very canny race sheltering within the pack until the right moment came. It was Emma that spent her energy chasing down the breakaways. Sharon crashed in the torrential rain but still made her contribution.
Thinking of this it struck me. I think cycling is the only sport where you actually sacrifice your chance of winning for your team-mate on a regular basis. I can’t think of another one (if you can please let me know).
Nicole Cooke acknowledged her team-mates efforts but this was lost all too quickly. The sacrifices that Emma and Sharon made remind me of some great leaders. The ones who sacrifice of themselves so others succeed and get the recognition, smile and move on to the next opportunity to support someone in their quest. Long may this spirit live on.
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