EventServices

One thing I love about cycling is the accessibility of the athletes. They're just normal guys doing extraordinary things.
I shot this clip while en route to the start of Stage 6 last week.
It shows how different we are from the NFL-MLB-NHL-NBA where the players enter the stadium through a separate entrance and park in a secure compound under heavy guard.

This is a Tinkoff rider in full kit with number pinned and everything behaving like a normal person.

Had to shoot it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZB_ss9K5rI

Namenda

Is that Contrini?

EventServices

Yep. Contrini.

Moments later, they handed me their camera and asked to have their picture taken.

gcl8a

I have a friend who lived in Germany and would occasionally run into (not literally) Jens Voigt MTB'ing in the winter. He said Jens was more than happy to just shoot the sh*t while riding around some forest or other. A straight up guy.

Not quite what I'd imagine if you ran into some NBA player on the outdoor court at the park.

cyclezealot

Great thread. Runs counter to so many threads that say Kitted pro riders are snobs. For the most part, I never believed it.

ElJamoquio

Neat. Not sure how much they'd like the stalker-video, though, but apparently they're OK with it.

I've heard the same thing from about many riders; especially if you're riding along and happen to see them out on a solo ride. Can you imagine asking NFL/NBA/whatever if they minded if you practiced with them?

slim_77

I suppose one reason is that they are within arms reach of their fans all the time...traning, even racing, or trying to figure out a camera in a parking lot...so they better be cool..

cyclezealot

Onetime , My bike group ran upon Gregg Lemond( I was not there that day.) They ran into him on the Oceanside bike trail, training with other riders. This a couple years ago. They said he took out time to have a little chat. When they stumbled upon him, he was just jawing about with his fellow riders at the end of the trail. They said he talked as if he was just a regular guy.

HigherGround

I've been in to cycling for over 25 years, and during that time I've been lucky enough to ride with Sean Kelly once, and twice with Andy Hampsten. I've also met Greg LeMond a few times. Granted, all of these times were at arranged events, rather than spontaneous meetings on the street, so anyone can try to be nice for an hour or two. However, they all seemed like genuinely nice, down to earth guys. I think once someone has made to the pro level, especially to their level of success, they don't feel like they need to prove themselves. I met a lot of less friendly cat 3 and 4 racers when I used to compete. It seemed like so many of them thought, "I can be the next LeMond or Armstrong, if I can just beat these guys" and they'd lose their competitive edge by being friendly.

Edit: I live near Philadelphia, and most summers you hear the occasional story about pro team rider sightings right around the time of the race in June (formerly the US PRO Championships). In the late 80's / early 90's one of my teammates said that LeMond had caught up to him while riding on Rt. 29 in New Jersey. He said that LeMond slowed down, chatted for a while, and was a regular guy. When I had met LeMond at a bike shop in NJ years ago, I was impressed with how friendly and unpretentious he was to everyone. After a while he seemed less like a winner of multiple Tours de France and World Championships, and more like a guy named Greg just hanging out at the shop.

volleybrad

I think the same can be said for a lot of the not-as-big sports. I've been to many pro beach volleyball tournaments, and all the players are very approachable. Most of them go out and party on the saturday night too and you run into a lot of them at the bar.

3MTA3

yeah it was sweet to see the guys outside of their team vans/busses just chillin, talking to whoever came up to them.

quigssnr

I only know a couple of pro's. Sean Kelly is lives near me and I have shared the road with him on more than one occasion. Top guy, no different to anyone else you would meet on the roads, no ego at all. Ciaran Power of the Navigators team is the other one I know, always full of good advice for you and happy to give it. His whole family is that way, was just watching a local race with them today.

samsation7

Sorry. I got sidetracked with the vid titled "fantastic lesbian kiss"

HigherGround

Good to know I wasn't the only one!

Ryleeryno

Oh boy. You gotta love You Tube.

EventServices

I'm not talking about seeing them out on a ride. Heck, that's BOUND to happen.
I'm talking about walking into Food Mart in full dress with number pinned on and everything.
I'm sure Payton Manning stops at Gas 'n Go on his way to the stadium, but r-a-r-e-l-y in full pads.

yogi13

Actually, the NBA guys for the most point tend to be pretty normal guys if you play with them at the park, or more likely at a gym...at least the ones I played pickup with 25 years ago or so were. At a pickup game they were mostly about having fun, didn't take themselves or the game itself seriously.

DieselDan

Pro cyclists and cycling fans usually have the same thing in common, bicycles. Fans of other pro sports aren't necessarily on the same page as the athlete.

Rotten Bastard

Yeah, I'm starting to follow the pro cycling scene for the same reason. I've always been a big baseball fan, and the general lack of whining and self-pity in cycling is a refreshing change. Plus the pro riders seem a lot tougher. They usually won't pull out of a race unless they crash and break something, and sometimes even then they'll keep riding. In baseball you'll see a guy sign a $150 million contract, then go on the 15-day DL after getting a paper cut in his first game.

Namenda

Very common malady, from counting all that money.

3MTA3

then b**** & moan for a new contract. i'm sorry, but when you sign a contract, you have to play for that contract. if you perform better than previous when you were signed & want more money, then you should be willing to give up money if/when you perform worse than when you were signed.

DXchulo

I heard that Peyton wears his jersey around so people won't notice him. Nobody expects him to do that, so they don't think it's him.

Anyway, I think this is a question of money & fame more than the sport itself.

DXchulo

I don't know. Normal people b**** & moan for raises at their jobs, and not even your average Joe is willing to take a paycut.

Chucklehead

a paper cut for a baseball player can be the difference bewteen locating your 97mph fastball high and inside or trying to explain why you fractured someone's skull. very different game. very poor comparison.

dcvelo

Well, there are 8 guys on the field besides the pitcher, right?

On the OP's topic, I've had the pleasure of meeting Hincapie, Voight, Vaughters....and all that needs to be said is it was a pleasure. Nice guys, no attitude.

Of course, all wearing street shoes at the time....