As far as elite cycling goes, many David vs Goliath stories abound. Sure, there is a tendency by many to hark back to the good old days when things were tougher and bikes were heavier and that is cool. But many of these stories, whilst true, tend to become embellished with time and interpretation, except for those who were directly affected of course!
Reading about Conor Henry’s exploits in the now-defunct Milk Race got me thinking. Here was a true underdog (read: plucky Irish amateur rider) who prevailed over the big boys (read: scary Euro pros) despite insurmountable odds. Pretty inspiring, yes, and hats off to Henry and co for pulling off one the greatest upsets in nineties cycling history. But what about those instances where the brave are eventually steamrolled by the proverbial juggernaut right at the death? Not too much is – or has – been chronicled on them.
The header image represents one of these tales of yore. Theuns Mulder is driving in front for his team leader in yellow, one Andrew McLean. Germany’s Stephan Gottschling is on McLean’s wheel while compatriot Christian Meyer is to the right. One can almost feel the sense of tension and foreboding, like a predator circling its prey. Even the fact that McLean and Meyer’s eyes are hidden while Mulder and Gottschling are sans shades is telling in itself.
The setting is the final stage of the 1993 Rapport Toer, one that went down in history as to what happens when one rider is essentially up against a dozen. They say pictures tell a thousand words and I’m sure an entire book could be compiled on that tour. Diverting from the usual North-to-South journey, this edition traversed the Free State, Kwazulu-Natal and the then-Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga), a race for the pure climbers if there ever was one. National teams from Australia, Austria, Germany, Great Britain and others made up the international field, giving the South African professional squads much to ponder. Willie Engelbrecht showed impressive form by dominating the first half only to succumb to mechanical issues on a critical mountaintop stage finish, duly won by arch-rival McLean. Things were looking good for the diminutive Johannesburger McLean, who had organized a South African/Belgian combination around him sponsored by a car rental company to finally win the Rapport Toer.
Here’s the caveat though. Germany had sent two national squads, officially separate “A” and “B” teams but essentially one behemoth. Gottschling headed the second stringers (vertically striped jersey) while Meyer, fresh off Olympic Gold in the 100km Team Time Trial the previous year, was with the cooler cats; cycling subterfuge if there ever was such an instance. These two teams combined to ride McLean off the road and they did, both literally and figuratively. Gottschling would prove the eventual benefactor of this guttering in numbers on the final day, being crowned Rapport Toer champion of 1993. Bubbly flowed in the German camp and McLean had settle for eventual third on GC at the death.
A bitter pill to swallow for McLean no doubt but one which he recovered from to dominate the Giro del Capo a few weeks later. And one which would set him up for a European season spent with a small Belgian pro team, culminating in a ride in the mountainous Tour de Suisse, which not many South Africans had even started up until that point.
Carry water, chop wood.
