TRIA Orthopaedic Center Your Cycling Blog

Bob McEnaney, a Minneapolis-based cycling coach, contributor to the TRIA Orthopaedic Center blog and Nature Valley Grand Prix fan, has enjoyed another edition of the race. Here are his thoughts on the week that was:

The Nature Valley Grand Prix continued its tradition of delivering top notch racing and exciting action throughout each stage. Both the men’s and women’s races provided excitement to the large and appreciative crowds throughout the 5 days.

Watching each stage as I did (as well as being a rider host), I was impressed and amazed by the effort given by the riders, and their ability to bounce back the next day and do it all over again. We watch the Tour and the other major stage races on TV, but watching them live, up close and personal each day provides an insight that is impossible to pick up on TV, the computer or the magazines.

These riders are forced to ride hard every day, on challenging courses and in all weather conditions. They go back to their hotel or their host housing, recover, sleep and do it all again the next day at a different venue.

As a coach, I’m amazed at the fitness level of these riders. Their actual riding ability, including their bike handling skills is phenomenal. Their ability to generate huge amounts of power – again and again and again – is incredible. And one of the most amazing qualities I see is their ability to recover quickly.

Many cyclists can pull out a huge effort for a one day event. However, this huge energy expenditure can wipe them out for several days or more. So to see – first hand – these riders ability to bounce back is simply astounding.

These are exceptional athletes, there’s no question about this. We’re fortunate to have such a high quality and highly visible race in our own back yard. As cyclists, as athletes and as fans, we need to continue to embrace this race. We don’t know how lucky we are.

Congratulations to the race organizers. It’s difficult to imagine all that goes into putting on a world class event such as this. The number of details, questions, issues and complications they deal with on a daily basis, not only during the race, but the entire year leading up to the race is mind-boggling.

This was a fantastic race, as always. I’m already looking forward to the 2011 edition, and I hope you are as well!

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