Guy Niv, the first Israeli rider to finish the Tour de France, sums up for Israel Today the historic participation in the world-renowned bicycle race
Guy Niv.
Pluto - Decision making in a millisecond
Photography:
Bettini Photo
faith.
Belief in a dream, in the eyes of a child, is probably one of the most powerful forces in the world.
Of course, Guy Hild's dream was very strong and significant in this story, but I think that another person's dream is the dream that is worth dwelling on in this story and giving him the stage, and this man is called Ren Margaliot.
Ren formed this group in late 2014, after finishing his episode as a professional rider and not realizing his dreams, but decided that if he did not get there himself - he would do everything in his power to help the next generation of riders get there.
Together with Roni Bar-On, the two founded Academic Cycling, and in 2015 the first Israeli professional group was born.
It's really in the trial of Ren that he did so much and made the dream a reality.
I am grateful to this man and for all he has done for our industry.
Speeds.
The professional platoon moves at a speed that is hard to describe and grasp.
Even if our speed data can be known, anyone who has not experienced riding this platoon will have a hard time grasping what is happening there.
The markings between each other on bumps and obstacles on the road, millisecond decision-making, position fights - for me these are hate-love relationships with this part of the sport.
Guy Niv. The French breathe a bicycle // Photo: Bettini Photo
The peak of emotion.
Probably the obvious answer is the Champs Elysees.
The moments in the last lap where I looked to the sides, realized where I was, remembered all the years I watched a column ending on TV, and the realization that I am now here as a rider, are without a doubt the most exciting moments.
But - I always imagined in that moment the noises of the crowd and my family and friends at the finish line.
I look forward to this moment in the future, "in a normal world", where this moment will be exactly as I dreamed.
The fault sucks the most.
It very much depends on the timing.
There are stages in the race where a bike malfunction is not a terrible thing.
The group car arrives and the mechanic can arrange things while moving, or they decide to change bikes and then return back to the platoon through the convoy of vehicles.
It costs energy, of course, and sometimes a little stress, but overall it does not ruin the race.
In contrast, a malfunction in a bicycle at moments when the race is run at full throttle is a death sentence.
At these moments returning to the platoon is difficult and complicated, and sometimes simply impossible.
And even if you have already managed to come back - the energy you wasted in the chase back actually eliminated the chances of doing something real at that point.
Guy Niv.
The great fear of the corona accompanied every segment // Photo: Bettini Photo
The scariest part.
I will take this specifically for 2020 and the situation we are in - getting corona test results before and during the column.
Knowing that in any such test you can find yourself finishing the race, that all the hard work can go down the drain in one moment because of something you feel you have no control over - it's scary and stressful.
is very.
The French are a people ...
breathing bikes.
It’s close to religion for them, and they love the industry so much and are respectful of the riders that it’s just amazing.
I think the very fact that this race took place in this life situation shows and explains how huge it is for them.
Punctures.
See Fault Value.
By and large, it's part of the game and mostly depends on when you get them.
Happily, I finished the entire column with zero punctures!
Thoughts of Retirement.
There was no such movie for me and it did not exist for me.
It was clear to me that I was coming to Paris.
Like this, sharp and smooth.
Increases.
Addicted to it.
There is something amazing about this feeling of reaching the summit of a mountain.
Obviously in a race, especially when the body is tired or when things are not going according to plan, it is the hardest part of cycling, but to tell the truth - it is my favorite part as a rider.
Best friend on the road.
I have a few, to be honest, but to mention one then Sap Cos who rides in the Lumbo Jumbo team.
He is the last Domestic (Hapoel, AS) domino of Primoz Roglich who almost won the column. We are from the same year and we both come from mountain bike racing. We competed with each other in the youth and U23. touch and very good relations. it's amazing to see leapfrog amazing he did the last two years, and I'm very happy for him.
I can find a situation of normal life planned that he will come this year to Israel in mid-October so we'll compete with the same race the mountain bike "bus of Israel." I hope and believe it Will happen in the future.
Battles in the platoon. Much
bigger and harder than you can see on TV. There is a lot of respect and unwritten rules on this subject. With your leader, play a role and influence.
Ran Margaliot (right). The man who founded the group in 2014
communication.
I learned to live with it, and like everything in life it's a matter of experience.
Our coverage ranges from zero to a hundred - in the vast majority of the time our coverage in Israel is extremely low, and on some days suddenly there is no media channel, radio station or newspaper that does not want to interview you.
I would have been happy if it had looked different, but this is the world we live in and I tried to enjoy this part of the Tour de France as well.
Weather.
Of course everyone was always happy to compete in pleasant sun, clear skies and a temperature of 20 degrees, but it is a branch that happens outside and it is part of its beauty.
You learn it from a very young age and are educated to the fact that it is part of a package called a bicycle.
In my opinion, this industry has so many great lessons for children who engage in it, and the learning and coping that weather conditions produce is actually an amazing tool for young athletes.
To say that I enjoy riding in the rain and at temperatures close to zero sometimes - of course not.
superstition.
I do not have.
