Mountain Biking, and cycling in general, is known as an individual sport. We are often reminded of this by the broader sporting media and general public. Perhaps it is ingrained during our schooling, where it is common to be described as a ‘team player’ or an ‘individual’ – and our sporting choices were labeled similarly.
But we know better. At the elite end of all cycling disciplines, it is never an individual performance. Road pro’s have their domestiques, mechanics, managers and a whole crew of support staff. Elite mountain bikers across Downhill, Cross Country, Four Cross and Marathon have mechanics, team mates, managers, coaches and more. So what do the rest of us have?
2011 has brought some changes to my usual plan. I have quite a few ‘helping hands’. Ryan Sippel from Vision Personal Training has been helping to improve my strength twice weekly. This is now transitioning into help for periodisation and working on my lactate threshold with Fabio Petro, who is coaching me. This can never be the extent of who is helping. It runs deeper.
In 2011 I will be racing as part of something bigger, with the MarathonMTB.com Race Team. As one of eight racers, I know I will have seven people who are able to support me, or me them, whenever we have the chance to race together. In Victoria, I will be happy to help Sam and Graeme achieve their goals at the Otway Odyssey if they require it. In March, the Capital Punishment Marathon will have Graeme and I testing ourselves – and helping each other to perform at our best.
Come late March and April and I will be teamed with the eternally strong Will Hayter. Over eight days at the ABSA Cape Epic there will be countless opportunities for him to support me, and me him, as the race and experience dictates. All stage races require these helping hands. Be it a physical push from team mates, emotional support from loved ones, or a mental push from your competitors.
The MarathonMTB.com race schedule is evolving from here, but be sure that we will be getting to a whole range of events this year – and supporting each other where possible.
As the momentum of 2011 builds, I’m looking forward to capitalising on all the help I receive from those around me – and giving it back whenever I can.