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Part IV — The Race

UPSES: the crew with Nelson and Sandra (left) and Joe and Chris da Rosa (right).
UPSES: the crew with Nelson and Sandra (left) and Joe and Chris da Rosa (right).
The two vans ready, the day before. All that was left was to pedal.
The two vans ready, the day before. All that was left was to pedal.
This is your moment. The moment.
This is your moment. The moment.© Jen Magnuson
Making the most of the flat to put down some speed.
Making the most of the flat to put down some speed.
The desert heat wrapped around you like nothing I’d ever felt.
The desert heat wrapped around you like nothing I’d ever felt.
Plan A went out the window early. Plan. Re-plan.
Plan A went out the window early. Plan. Re-plan.
Classics never die.
Classics never die.
Wolf Creek Pass at night: 10,800 feet (3,300 m), and bone-splitting cold.
Wolf Creek Pass at night: 10,800 feet (3,300 m), and bone-splitting cold.
Extreme weather was on the menu — tornadoes included.
Extreme weather was on the menu — tornadoes included.
KFCrew: what a moment — and what a shot of morale!
KFCrew: what a moment — and what a shot of morale!
The night shift.
The night shift.
Hard to explain what it took to stop and get back on the road that afternoon.
Hard to explain what it took to stop and get back on the road that afternoon.
An unforgettable end to the night: two friends carrying a third without touching him
An unforgettable end to the night: two friends carrying a third without touching him
The sun coming up, and Bambi in the road.
The sun coming up, and Bambi in the road.
Tire change from the passenger seat: check!
Tire change from the passenger seat: check!
Greenville: feet, plan review and brainstorming, all at once.
Greenville: feet, plan review and brainstorming, all at once.
The best damage control available, for another ten hours on the pedals.
The best damage control available, for another ten hours on the pedals.
One of the most surreal and comic moments of the race.
One of the most surreal and comic moments of the race.
Down here, and up in Heaven.
Down here, and up in Heaven.
To the end of the climbs, to the songs of our youth.
To the end of the climbs, to the songs of our youth.
Barely awake — it was like taking a wasps’ nest to the head.
Barely awake — it was like taking a wasps’ nest to the head.
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