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Sean Weide riding in the passenger seat in the Team Type 1 team car
during the Tour of Georgia. Photo Vero Image
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Today, Team Type 1 is the 10th team car among the massive caravan of vehicles that follow the race each day. Although the race begins at 10 a.m. sharp, by the time our car has passed through the start line, already two minutes and 11 seconds have elapsed.
“Good morning and welcome to Stage 5 of the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T,” says a women’s voice crackling over the race radio. For the next 133 miles, Lorinn Rhodes (the voice of “Radio Tour”) will be our eyes to tell us what is happening up front since we will rarely be able to even see the front of the peloton.
Behind the wheel, Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon does his best to negotiate the tricky start section while doing his own check of Team Type 1’s radio. Every racer on the team has a two-way radio to communicate with the car. Unfortunately, right now, Team Type 1’s second team car can’t hear us. And that’s not good because should a breakaway get more than a minute up the road with someone from Team Type 1 in it, Assistant Sport Director Vassili Davidenko will go with it in Car 2.
After some finagling and more radio checks, Davidenko can hear us. Meanwhile, Radio Tour continues its own radio checks. Mariano Friedrick, director of Rock Racing, replies with, “Good morning. Ready to rock ‘n roll!”
The race is literally a city in motion. There are 115 riders on this stage, nearly 60 vehicles, more than 20 motorcycles and police cars ahead of the race and behind it. The Team Type 1 car is like a bicycle shop on wheels. Team Mechanic Chris Davidson has everything he needs to make repairs to a bike, plus spare wheels and a couple spare bicycles on the roof. Seated opposite Beamon in the back seat, Davidson is poised to jump out of the car and attend to a rider should a problem arise.
It will also be his job to pass water bottles, sodas or food to Beamon should a rider need them. He also keeps pen and race roster handy to write and relay information to Beamon after it is broadcast over the radio.
Less than 15 minutes into the race, that’s exactly what Davidson is doing. Five riders have escaped off the front of the pack and are trying to get away. Beamon is quick to get on the radio and remind Team Type 1 of the strategy for the day.
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