A former Tech student was one of four Americans competing in the Tour. He is primarily in a support role on his team, and is in his second tour. So, high results aren't to be expected. But finishing is definitely to be commended.
https://www.nbc12.com/2019/07/18/richmond-native-kings-tour-de-france-ri...
Here's an older Collegiate Times article about his time at the school. http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/the-king-of-the-road/article_16fffaf...
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
Finishing seven places later would have been nice for a supporting role.
Nice
Doesn't look like Ben is riding in this year's tour. His wife is due in October, and I've read that he was possibly borderline for being included by his team. Some of that reading also indicated he's trying for the Vuelta, where he has a couple stage wins. That would be very close to the due date though.
Well, everybody has their priorities...
My wife, who is an "Ironman", took me on a 36 mile bike ride a couple months ago. My legs died and went to heaven that day.
I used to do that sort of mileage on the regular. There's nothing like that tired feeling in your legs after a long ride. And the nap that comes afterwards.
Hell, I did ~12.5 miles yesterday and my legs were sore and tired. Of course, I'm 50.
Thing that bum me out most about inability to exercise at my age are (1) cannot run (knees), (2) cannot play volleyball (shoulder) and (3) although I can cycle decent distances, the slightest uphill grade for any meaningful time leaves me winded. Have not been able to go to the gym in many months and I wonder if the lack of strength training is really damaging the CV endurance at this point.
Downhill grades I go barreling by her. But as gravity giveth, gravity taketh away. She just smiles and waves as she passes me on the uphill.
Bicycling is all about weight and conditioning.
Well, and
steroidsdoping, it turns out.One of the books I read mentioned that it was more hematocrit and less steroids that was the key to cheating. Years ago, so maybe the steroids are "better" now. But the comment was something along the lines of, there are 3 things that you need to win the Tour de France:
You must be very, very thin
You must be very, very fit
You must have a very high hematocrit
At the time, the author was saying the negatives of steroids for distance cycling (water retention, bulking up, weight gain) were almost as bad as the "benefits" of strength and power. So it was possible for a clean rider to complete with a doped-up one. But epo changed all of that and it became essentially impossible for a clean rider to compete with someone cheating.
Yeah - you're right, I was sort of using the word generically. Corrected.
Pathetic.
J/k - good job on him!