Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
One of the big questions about pro-cycling, even for serious amateur cyclists, is why do they do it? It's relentless, hard, dispiriting, grinding, thankless career for most. And yet, there is no shortage of riders willing to subject themselves to these hardships to be pro-cyclists. In fact, the riders love what they do and they wouldn't do anything else.
I was thinking about this again when I read the news that John-Lee Augustyn (formerly of Barloworld, Sky and most recently MTN-Qubekha) has finally retired (again). He was once a real prospect - perhaps even seen as far more of a likely potential African GT winner than many others - former teammate, Chris Froome, included. But then he a terrible crash with the most horrendous injuries. And he retired. Yet, after surgeries and having his hip replaced and all the usual physio work, he still came back into pro-cycling. He couldn't give it up. But the ongoing after-effects of the injuries and particularly the biophysical changes that resulted from his hip replacement have finally forced him to retire again. It's clearly heartbreaking for him, and it provides a real insight into just 'why they do it' and brings home that unique combination of pain and love that makes this sport so addictive.
So, thank-you, John-Lee, and good luck.
I was thinking about this again when I read the news that John-Lee Augustyn (formerly of Barloworld, Sky and most recently MTN-Qubekha) has finally retired (again). He was once a real prospect - perhaps even seen as far more of a likely potential African GT winner than many others - former teammate, Chris Froome, included. But then he a terrible crash with the most horrendous injuries. And he retired. Yet, after surgeries and having his hip replaced and all the usual physio work, he still came back into pro-cycling. He couldn't give it up. But the ongoing after-effects of the injuries and particularly the biophysical changes that resulted from his hip replacement have finally forced him to retire again. It's clearly heartbreaking for him, and it provides a real insight into just 'why they do it' and brings home that unique combination of pain and love that makes this sport so addictive.
So, thank-you, John-Lee, and good luck.
