On Being a Pro Cyclist — Men’s Camp and Classics in Europe
This is the second edition of our year long photo reflection blog from the Cylance Pro Cycling team. We’re now at the point in the season when the American calendar starts to get going, so from here on out we’ll be able to share stories from both the men’s and the women’s teams!
At just under 7,000 feet above sea level, the Cylance Pro Cycling men’s team spent 10 days sleeping closer to the stars for their first official training camp of the season in Big Bear Lake, CA. With camp being so close to the season’s first races, this was less an opportunity for everyone to meet each other over coffee and more a 10 day stage race. You can read more about the men’s camp on our website.
Thousands of miles away, the Cylance Pro Cycling women’s team were also getting back to business after a break from racing following a successful Australian Summer campaign, that featured 3 victories, with the European Classics season. The races are known for their inclement weather, longer races and varied terrain, including long stretches of cobbles and dirt roads. Sheyla Gutiérrez punctuated one of these difficult races with a fist punched into the sky at the Belgian race, Le Samyn des Dames.
For the men, the first true test comes in another week at the Southern California unofficial season kickoff, the San Dimas Stage Race; while the women continue their long residence in Northern Europe leading up to a monumental April packed with Ronde Van Vlaanderen, the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
“On Being a Pro Cyclist” is series where we ask our Cylance Pro Cycling athletes to tell us more about specific moments throughout the season. We hope you enjoy the inside perspective of some of the world’s most inspirational athletes.
This was another tough day on the bike at training camp. I was happy to stop and have a break. I found the closest spot to sit down to eat and drink. It was only for a few minutes but we were training that hard that any rest was appreciated.
I was also trying to show the young guys on the team that I wasn’t hurting on these training rides thus the game face.
-Karl Menzies
When the going gets tough, things get simplified:
“One more climb…”
-Joëlle Numainville
I think this was when we were shooting the downhill footage for Cannondale, and by this time of camp -( along with use at home) I had enough time on the bike to be really comfortable with it.
This is by far one of the most compliant and reactive bike I’ve been on. and that leads to confidence while riding or racing, especially on roads and places you’ve yet to encounter.
Perhaps the only concern on this day was trying to pick the line that had little to no dirt or pebbles from the snow the area had just seen days prior.
-Eric Marcotte
ME HE ganado una CLÁSICA . Pave,viento, abanicos, granizo, 205 corredoras,las mejores… Lo había soñado pero nunca me habría creído. Le Samyn es mía. Gracias. A todas esas personas que hacen que crea que puedo, en las buenas y en las malas. He disfrutado mucho y me alegro poder compartir esto con vosotros. // I won, I couldn’t believe it. Thanks Cylance Pro Cycling and Manel Lacambra to think I could be a nice rider and let me grow up and the amazing staff and teammates . So glad share these emotions with you. Maybe for some rider seems it stupid. But I’m really impressed and because that I want to be as happy as I am today.
-Sheyla Gutiérrez
