Say what you will about their eligibility to race, but this weekend the Italian cycling teams - women and men - showed how to race as a team for once.
Sure there was individual brilliance on display, but to put all the critics to one side and win two world RR golds is very impressive. To have both teams firing on all cylinders in a magnificent display of cycling teamwork is akin to the USPS/Disco wins of Le Tour.
All weekend hackers and cloggers take note, there is much to be learned from putting aside individual expectations in favour of team goals.
Congratulations Squadra Azura, Bastianelli and Bettini*.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Johnny GoFast // Oct 1, 2007 at 8:49 am
He’s the biggest doper of them all and he’s getting away with it. Not a big Bettini fan or of pro cycling anymore, but this guy is a total gutter ball.
2 Robert // Oct 1, 2007 at 9:39 am
I like the “*” as an indicator of a rider with a questionable past. Unless this means that every name is with an “*” then we’ll have to reverse its meaning.
3 Anonymous // Oct 2, 2007 at 10:26 am
Winder-
Your quote “All weekend hackers and cloggers take note, there is much to be learned from putting aside individual expectations in favour of team goals.” is interesting. My take, like it or not, nearly everyone racing in local VP events on any given weekend is a weekend hacker. Let’s face it, most of us have jobs and other responsibilities that take precedent in life. That being said, team work in racing and being a part of a team that races strategically are important elements in success. It is a give and take situation where at one point or another, you are working for the team or the team is working for you. Unlike the pro squads who have a hierarchy of leader(s) and servant domestiques (who, as you know, are paid to be domestiques), local racing teams are made up members who are willing to work for the team given the chance to be worked for occasionally. So I ask you, how often did you work for your team this year vs. focusing purely on your own upgrade points and results?
4 Robert // Oct 2, 2007 at 11:16 am
Thanks for visiting Johny Anonymous, I’m glad you can join the conversation.
I worked for the team every time. Sadly, there weren’t enough times with teammates this season.
Its not a question of some being domestiques, some being leaders. Its a about having the right tactics and strategy supporting the right rider for the best result of the team on the day and that supports the objectives of the team.
5 Margaret // Oct 2, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I shall be analysing the contents of the anonymous post and comparing them to the ones previously posted on MH blog page.
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