Day 1 below. Keep scrolling if you haven't read it yet.
Friday we got up early to hit the road for Lebanon, MO where the day’s start line was. The drive was easy and it became even easier to find our location because we came across the BMC Cycling Team caravan and the Discovery Channel Team caravan. Just on principle I passed the Disco caravan to say that I did. I kick ass.
We followed BMC, and St. Louis native Dan Schmatz all the way to the start line. Best GPS money never bought. First thing we did, of course, was say hi to our Mavic buddy and scold him for not dropping by for a drink the night before.
The start line proved what’s so great about cycling. First, the entire town of Lebanon seemed to be there. Every kid in the school district seemed to be there, wearing yellow and all carrying signs for various teams. For them, having elite international athletes in town was akin to the Super Bowl showing up. The current Tour de France champ was in town, for crying out loud. When’s the last time the Kansas City Royals or the St. Louis Cardinals ever showed up to Lebanon, Holt’s Summit, Clinton or any of the other small towns on the route.
Moreover, cycling is open to the fans. We wandered around the team cars, chatted with the racers while they prepared for the stage, got autographs and took photos. The teams never asked the fans to leave, never felt we were in the way and never refused an autograph or photograph. Their bikes were out in the open, we could look at their equipment, talk to managers, mechanics, Directors Sportif, soigneurs even owners. They were open and available up until the very moment their presence was required at the start line.
I chatted with Dan Schmatz, who had been charming some of the school kids and getting them excited about cycling, about his encounter with an armadillo and asked if he’d pose with his injuries for the St. Louis Biking message board. He started to show me his broken collarbone, but I assured him that just seeing the bandages and sling was enough. Prior to our arrival a group of kids were talking to him and he was charming the hell out of them, talking about school, cycling, everything. Despite my goofy photos, I think he may have converted some fans to cycling.
I admit I then did the total fanboy, goofball thing and stood outside the Discovery Channel bus waiting for the team to come out. If I had my choice, I would have sat and watched Slipstream prepare but . . . well . . . they don’t have the current Tour de France champion, the current US Champion and last year’s US Champion/Current Tour of Missouri race leader. So I stood in the throng.
I managed to get a signature from Alberto Contador, so I’ve officially come into contact with a Yellow Jersey. Darby had been leaning against the team car and was approached by Levi Leipheimer who said, “Uh, I need to get in there.” Darby stalled him, got his signature on my poster and we retreated to the background.
We wandered over to the start line to watch the riders roll off and listen to our Governor speak. We got to say hello to the race marshal known as “Skirt” because of her unique fashion style for motorcycle riding. Our Mavic pal pointed her out in Branson.
The race rolled off and so did we, hoping to beat the peloton out to the first KOM point of the day. We were tearing down the highway, trying to bridge up to a small highway what would allow us to intercept the race. Unfortunately, I missed our turn so we had to go off course a bit. Darby is an expert in navigating rural roads because he’s an avid off-roader and camper. So he wasn’t worried, he found us a route that took us directly into the path of the race. We parked the Jeep and took off down the road trying to get to the KOM point. We missed it by about a half KM. But our spot was fine. We chatted with a race volunteer from Olathe, Kansas which is where Darby’s kids live. Small world!
There was a small group off the front as the race came flying by. As we walked back to the car, we noted the chalking on the roads. Most prominently was “Timmy D” (Timmy Duggan) of Slipstream, who had placed third in the USPRO National Time Trials a few weeks earlier. When we got back to the car there was a family loading into their van. The woman was wearing a Slipstream jacket.
“Did you steal that from Jonathan Vaughters,” I asked.
“Ha, no. I borrowed it from my son, Tim Duggan.” Holy shit, really? We talked for a second, I told her how great her son had done in the TTs at Nats and she said she was really proud of him. Then she asked if we had a bottle opener because they wanted to open some beers, but we had to be quiet because the Sherriff was about ten feet away.
“Darby,” I yelled, “they need a bottle opener.”
So Darby walked over and handed them his shoe. They looked confused, so he flipped it over revealing the built in bottle opener. They were amazed at the advancement in technology and marveled at Darby’s shoe. You’d think they were prehistoric man discovering fire.
“We have to get a pair of those!”
We declined their offer of beer and hit the road for Holt’s Summit, just outside of Jefferson City where the second Edward Jones Sprint Point of the day would be. We had plenty of time to beat the peloton there because it was about 50 miles away. We rolled through a small town that was slowly preparing for the race. A surprising number of people lined the route, excited about the rolling circus about to come through town.
We found the sprint point, parked grabbed our lunch and set up our chairs directly on the line. It was an awesome spot. We ate our lunch and waited. Darby built a Dagwood sandwich and asked me if I wanted one. I did. But, here’s the thing, I hadn’t ridden my bike in days. I wouldn’t be riding again until Monday at least. The bikeorexic hit and I ate my dainty cyclist lunch instead. I am a nerd.
But, also, because I don't like this Gary, I like this Gary. So, I try to stick to my training diet and plan. Without burning 1000 calories on the bike, I needed to save the calories. Otherwise, well, you know.
Across the street was an elementary school that had let their kids out to wait for and watch the race. Standing along side a fence facing the route and started rooting for their favorite team.
What team was that? Well, think about it. You’re a kid. There are teams sponsored by a boring cable channel, a car and bike company, olive oil and wine, a German big box store, an insurance company, or a jelly bean company?
You guessed right. Those kids were pumped about the Jelly Belly squad. The rumors that they throw jelly beans out of the team car surely didn’t hurt.
The kids stood at the fence, about 30 minutes before the race came through Holt’s Summit, chanting, “Jelly! Jelly! Jelly! Jelly! Jelly!” This continued for some time until the local fire department showed up and parked their fire truck across the street from the school. Without missing a beat, the collective unit of kids switched allegiance immediately.
“Fire truck! Fire truck! Fire truck!” they chanted.
As the race caravan came through we learned there was a break of about 4 minutes. This meant nothing to the kids. They cheered every time a State Police vehicle came rolling through. When they started riling up the kids by setting off their sirens. By the time the race came through the kids were so keyed up I feared they might riot when it was time to go in.
The break came through and sprinted for the line to get the points. Admittedly it was all a blur. Couldn’t tell you who won it. I heard the numbers from the posted race judges, and could have checked the race grid to find out their names, but it was all a blur. Then came the peloton.
Tired, and a little dazed that I actually got to see an event like this, we loaded our gear back into the car and headed home.
All in all it was a great trip and I had a great time with Darby. The trip confirmed that he’s a genuine, kind man and a hell of a lot of fun to be around. If given the opportunity to drive across the state with him again, I’d do it without hesitation.
Looks like the race will be back next year, as it’s been hugely successful—perhaps even beyond expectation. I’m already planning on taking those days off next year (hey, my company is instituting paid vacations next year because the financial dude kicks ass!). This time I think I’ll tent it across the state. Darby rekindled my desire to camp. I think it’s time to start building up those supplies.
I think the girls are even starting to warm up to the idea.
One more day, but it's not as exciting because I had to actually work the event! Full pictures from the first two days here.
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