Taylor Phinney - Pro cyclist Trek Livestrong Team

Beijing rides! In closing….

Taylor was remarkable under pressure despite not having what he might consider the ‘ride of his life.’  He came to the line ready, with some fabulous lap times in training - but on race day he felt flat or ‘blocked.’  As he climbed into the start gate he flashed a huge smile in our direction which made me think - he is ready.  He’s not nervous.  Go T!His ride was good enough for 7th, good enough to make it into the second round (the stated goal was to make top 8 and have the chance to ride again), one placing better than Worlds, but not what he had hoped for in terms of setting a personal best time.  Putting together a perfect pursuit is elusive for many and many top riders faltered in their attempts including several who finished ahead of him at Worlds (notably Worlds Silver Medalist Jenning Huizenga, Aussie pro Brad McGee and the Irishman Davis O’Loughlin).  The early riders were all struggling to finish strong.  The impression was to not open too fast.  T knew that.  And yet - T opened like a rocket ship after lift off — too fast! - about half second too fast on the first lap and about a second too fast for the first kilometer.  His middle 2 ks were impressive but he paid dearly in the last K and uncharacteristically faded.  When he looked at us from the infield, his gesture was of one shooting his legs with a mock gun.  My legs were shot he was saying.  And yet 7th.  Seventh.  It’s good - even great - but for him, it was not the stuff of dreams.  He would have to ride the Kiwi who had ridden formidably and seemingly easily under 4′20″ in the next round.  Grr.  The following day, Davis and I made our way to the Olympic Village to visit T, help coordinate his pre-race planning and as it would be our only chance to visit, we made the best of it!  We bought coupons to eat lunch with T in the gigantic well-stocked and diverse cafeteria — and gawked at the dazzling array of bodies from teeny gymnasts to gigantic shot putters - it was a feast for the athletic eye.  A teeming mass of 10,000 bodies swarming to lunch, and then moving on to workout - to rest - to race - like falling into a beehive it was impressive in its commotion and energy.  I could have sat all day on a bench and just watched but we had little time for that.  As we lugged T’s gear to the bus, we ran into the Kiwi coaching staff and wished them well.  Ironically, we’d trained with their crew for 2 weeks in Bordeaux and now both their pursuitists were riding off against US riders.  Ali Shanks would go on to beat Sarah Hammer and yes, Hayden Roulston would easily defeat T.  We’d seen them working hard and knew what they were capable of.  Most of the time in Bordeaux I kept wishing we had a coaching environment like theirs - well-oiled, supportive, collective, and upbeat.  That night, Taylor did ride well - and if his standards were not so high, we’d have all said REMARKABLE!  Unbelievable!  Super human!  But as it was, we knew he didn’t think so.  He held his head up, he joked with the media, he accepted his result with grace and just like that - it was over.  His Olympic experience now was aimed like an arrow at enjoying what he’d worked so hard to earn.  Time to see other events, to meet other athletes, to be a teenager and yes, Mom, I AM STAYING for closing ceremonies.  He’d given up celebrating High School graduation with his peers, he certainly was not going to miss this opportunity.  While many athletes were eager to exit, in fact it was like an exodus at the airport in Beijing when I left on the 21st - many - were intent on staying and absorbing it all.  As first Olympics go - this one was great!