The Man In The Arena

On April 15 professional cyclist Stuart O'Grady made his dream come true by winning 'The Hell Of The North'. Arguably the most difficult one day race in the whole of cycling, Paris-Roubaix has been a major goal of Stuart for his entire career. Like most professionals, Stuart has had his fair share of disappointment and setbacks but 2 weeks ago he finally conquered the 260 km and 28 sections of cobblestones to be crowned the 2007 champion.

Riding for the Danish team CSC, Stuart works closely with team director Scott Sunderland (a former professional cyclist himself) in preparing for races as well as executing strategies during races in an attempt to be victorious. On April 15 the strategy worked.

For most cyclists Paris-Roubaix is an unrealistic goal but for a few (like O'Grady) who are suited to the race ,winning can be a career long ambition. In addition to the rich cycling traditions surrounding the race, there is also strong historical character associated with it. In Roman times, troops would march along a lot of the cobble stone roads that feature in the race. For many, the imagery of gladiators is used to describe the cyclists fighting for victory and attempting to conquer the many difficulties the race presents.

As is customary, Team CSC posts a race day schedule priory to an event, detailing times and itineraries. The day before Paris-Roubaix Scott Sunderland included the following quote from his race diary on the schedule. It apparently inspired the team and set the tone for victory the next day.

"It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles. Or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt, 1910