Life of a Pro

Local Port Macquarie cyclist Chris Jory came to stay for 3 weeks of R&R. Chris has been racing with the 'under-23' elite cycling team MG.K VIS - Norda since January and needed some time out to speak "Australian" and do some light pedaling through Chianti. He has recently completed the Giro Bio (Giro d'Italia for under-26 elite cyclists), with a reputation as being the hardest non-professional race in the world.

I was under strict instructions by his team director to ensure that he maintained his intense training regime, but more importantly: his weight. I had initially foreseen this as being a bit of a problem as the local bar serves the best pizza in the world, with wine and beer to match.

However the "light pedaling" consisted of between 70-150kms every day, on undulating and mountainous terrain - the best routes in the region. Far from actually putting on weight and becoming "grasso", Chris actually dropped a kilo, and therefore the Italian diet of pizza e birra has now been established as essential to the elite cyclists training regime..........Mission accomplished.

It was a real pleasure to have this young athlete stay. Although there is a twelve-year age difference between the two of us, this was never a problem as we have a shared passion for cycling and exploring new routes. Many years after having the life of a full-time racing cyclist it was a refreshing experience for this old dog to re-live the excitement and intensity of days gone by.

The legs still hurt.