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A lunch in Bogotá |
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Our teammate Mitch traveled to Bogotá, Colombia recently. As coincidence would have it, our other teammate Abraham’s dad, Pedro, lives in Bogotá! That itself might have sparked their meeting, but this was Pedro Soler, who in 1986 raced in the Tour de France as part of the Café de Colombia squad! So with just a few emails and calls, Mitch and Pedro were getting together.
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| That same evening Mitch’s beaming report said it all: “Pedro was wonderful and gracious, we met at 1 and went to lunch at a great restaurant nearby. We spent over two hours talking about professional racing, his favorite people in the world (Italians), his favorite food in the world (Italian), his favorite cycling country in the world (Italy)” and about some of the infamous contenders of the 1986 tour such as Bernard Hinault. During stage 18, Pedro and his team helped their leader Luis Herrera win against Hinault on the climb up Le Galibier! |
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Mitch recounted: “I’ll admit he is in fantastic shape for an ex-pro his age. Well, actually he’s one year my junior. He has a full head of thick black hair and doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him. Works out a lot? No. Every other Sunday he goes for a "ride in the mountains." Would he kick my butt any day of the week even though he rides one day a week? I have no doubt about that. We translated his explanation as "good genetics and a large heart and a dream to win for Colombia since I was twelve.” Nuff said.”
“He autographed some photos dedicated to Organic Athlete. And here is the best news of all... he is coming to Nuevo York in July and has promised to ride with us! Wow! So, Abraham, the ball is in your court now. I am hereby volunteering for the OA welcoming party for your dad, to be followed by a nice Tour de River Road and beyond. You just need to get Pedro to show up! Cheers and thanks again for the great fun today.”
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| Later Abraham said “I just talked to my dad and he said the same thing: "We had a great time, great people, great evening,” also he mentioned that it is too bad that you are leaving the country tomorrow because he wanted to ride with you Sunday in the hills. But now he is more excited to come to New York and ride with us, and he said "Now I have to train more because I don't want to be dropped." I’m really glad you guys had a great time.” |
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| Mitch replied: “He was the most fun lunch companion I have had in a long time. And I am glad he is getting ready to train for our ride in July because I am going to make him sweat on the L'Alpe d'New Jersey (River Road). In addition to killing a few bottles of burgundy I have in mind. I can’t wait till he gets here.” |
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