Drop Him!

Okay…so it is that time of year when those of us who are into cycling look forward to the daily coverage of the Tour de France. And it is with this explanation that I offer another “Word for the Day” that consists of an illustration from the cycling world.

US Postal was competing in the 2005 Tour de Georgia and team director Johan Bruyneel wanted badly for their newest team member and designated leader for the race Tom Danielson to win. As it came down to last stage of the six-day 550 mile race Tom was exactly one-minute behind the race leader and Johan knew that they would have to ride a very tactical race that day to win. As they began the last stage that crossed five mountains through thunderstorms and terrifying bolts of lightening they began their attacks. Sending one rider after another to the front to challenge the race leader in attempt to weaken him.

On the climb just prior to the last, brutal climb of the race Johan sent Lance Armstrong to the front in an effort to crack the race apart. Lance was not in his peak form for the race…he was waiting to reach peak physical condition for the Tour de France…but yet Johan knew that like any great champion, he could always, at any time, pull one great spectacular effort from his body. When Johan gave the order Lance responded and delivered punch one.

As they continued to climb Johan gave the orders to Tom. Go! And he went and he dropped the race leader. They knew he would continue to gain time on him and be able to make up the 1-minute deficit. The only problem was there was one other rider between Tom and the race leader in the standings and he had a 10-second advantage over Tom…and he had followed him on his attack. So now Tom would have to somehow beat the second place competitor by at least 10-seconds in order to become the overall winner of the 6-day race.

It came down to one-half mile of road of a 550-mile race. And it was one of the cruelest stretches of road in all of pro-cycling. It is exposed to the wind (which was producing a steady 45-mph gust, with snow on this particular day), and the pitch is so steep that most riders – nonpros – literally cannot ride it. Tom and his competitor were riding up this stretch of road…eyeing each other…and attempting to show their strength in hopes that the other might wilt.

As they were climbing Johan gave the order to Tom in a clear and calm voice: “Now Tom.” And it was as if Johan had touched fire to gunpowder. Tom blasted forward. And his competitor fell back but stayed right on his rear wheel…pacing off of him. Johan told Tom: “He’s on your wheel.” “But, you can drop him. You are going to drop him. You will do it!” Over and over Johan spoke through the earpiece within Tom’s helmet explaining to him how he was going to drop his competitor.

When Johan said it again Tom responded with another burst and he dropped him. Tom finished 14-seconds ahead of the second place finisher and 1-minute 9-seconds in front of the race leader. Tom had won the race.

As a team they has bashed the field into submission and they accomplish their goal. They had done it. But they only way they were able to do what they had done is they were prepared.

Scripture many times refers to our life on earth as a race. We should run it to win. And there will be times when we are called upon by our own Race Director to respond…to drop the nearest competitor and if won’t often be when we are on the long flat straight-away’s, because it is easy for the competition to respond and launch a counter-attack…but rather we will normally be called upon to drop the competition during the long steep climbs…when only the fittest will make it.

The higher you climb the thinner the field gets. Will you be ready to respond?

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 – “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved