I'm going to attempt to get through this blog post without disrespecting both sexes, but not sure if it'll work. Here goes...
Near the beginning of the 'race' on Sunday, while John and I were still riding together, he said to me, 'Anne just passed us on the left'. We were really flying and I was shocked. How could she have gained so much speed over the winter? Was my conditioning that bad? Worse still, I spent the entire 4+ hours thinking she was ahead of me, becoming less and less sure that I'd catch her on each of the climbs (her relative 'weakness'...she's very fast on the flats). But no, I finished the event, saw John waiting for me at the line, and asked him where Anne was. His response - 'What?'. It appears that John had said something completely different to me all those anxious hours ago and Anne was still out on the road. A manly 'whew' floated across my brow.
But it made me think about men and women and sport a bit. It wasn't the first time, either. I've been beaten down by women my whole life and there always seems to be one or two in the 'races' we do who are stronger and faster than me. Note: I'm alright with this. However, when I'm riding with a woman, like up the last part of the Col de la Bonette in Haute Route last year, I'm astonished that I can't beat them. Okay, going up is one thing (they could be really light), but I'm a pretty good descender and in the Granite Mont Lozère 2 or 3 years ago a girl flew away from me off the top of the highest mountain in the Cévennes, never to be seen again. Note: I'm alright with this, even if it sounds like I'm not.
But I know guys who aren't. I remember a buddy of mine who had just re-taken up triathlon after a long absence and who was routinely trounced by 'that blonde.' He had a hard time accepting this and made it his mission to set things 'right' in the world. In Haute Route last year there were many of us (men) dumbfounded at how strong the leading woman was, especially because she 'didn't look like a climber'. She must have been extremely strong and fearless. I don't know what was going on inside the minds of the guys who finished behind her each stage, but I heard a comment or two that could have been taken as envious and condescending in equal measure. It hurts the ego.
Anne was interviewed after the 'race' (if you read French it's here) and said herself that French guys are 'gentlemen' on the road, but they don't like to be passed by a woman on a climb. She's going to do the Corsica Cent Cols Challenge (10 days with something like 30,000 meters of climbing) in May, so I'd better prepare myself mentally when we ride together in June...
Men, comment on this article at your own risk.
0 Comments