latest race news from sim in france...

Thought you guys might like this.  Did a hill climb in the Pyrenees yesterday.  I was rather happy to get away near the bottom of the Col de Latrape, then attacked my breakaway partner with 3 k to go to the Cirque de Cagateille and cross the line solo… but that’s not the point… the point is, that on the podium, apart from the usual trophy and flowers, I also got a stack of local products, (sausage, honey, pate etc) but also…. Wait for it…. YES, a proper, 100% wool, depths of the mountains beret (flock of goats not included)!!!  How cool is that!

two things i want to draw attention to.  first, note the prize for winning the race: trophy, flowers and the handcrafts of the local laborers.  so tight, so fine, so union approved.  second, the black beret.  in the basque region, they are quite common.  it is a very special gift and a really cool prize.  when sim and i raced the essor basque, at the end of each stage, they'd call up the top three and the winner would get the coveted beret.  the crowd always gave a very nice cheer for this.  we could learn a lot from the way they do things oevr there...

-posted by scott