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Proud mother: Connie Carpenter's report on day 2 at track worlds.

By Connie Carpenter
Published: Mar. 26, 2009

Editor's Note: Connie Carpenter is in Pruszkow, Poland, covering the Track World Championships for VeloNews.com while supporting her son, Taylor Phinney. Carpenter is a former world champion on the track and an avid fan of track cycling.

The beauty of that rainbow jersey — even when it’s a titch too big. The simplicity of the flowers doled out by ladies in red silky dresses. The glory of hearing your own national anthem and watching your flag raised. This is the view from the podium.

What is a mother to do? I snap photos, I call Davis at home so he can hear the anthem played live for his son. I was live on the phone throughout the ride with Davis. Mostly what I do is this — I hug … first Taylor, then Taylor’s coach Neal Henderson who is thankfully here. I thank the USA Cycling staff — Jim Miller and the crew from Belgium — I hug the Bek brothers, and anyone else who will let me hug or be hugged. I am proud. I am happy. I am relieved.

In Taylor’s case, youth is clearly not wasted on the young.

He has seized his gift, fought for the top and displayed a grace that clearly belies his age. He had to fight for it but he timed his efforts perfectly and rode with poise. In the final ride, he started a bit fast and then fought off the charging Aussie Jack Bobridge … and finished the night riding the third best time of his career. It was a classy ride.

Olympic silver medalist Hayden Ralston wrote to ask if Taylor had even breathed hard during the ride? In fact, Taylor does make it look effortless.

Taylor practiced his usual pre-race rituals with a tranquility and focus usually attributed to much older athletes. He has worked out a very simplified approach to the pursuit, and much of it is mental focus. He likes to be left to his own and is comfortable by himself.

In short, the result today — is earned and owned by him. Respect.

Yet … while Taylor has been confident and cool, I’ve had my head swirling with all the various disasters I experienced at the Worlds, whether pursuiting on the track or riding the road. I’ve shared several with Taylor and mused how my parents suffered my setbacks — the tears — with grace. And in reality, he’s made it so easy on us with his success these past years.

In my first-ever pursuit at the Worlds in 1976 — I qualified eighth and had to ride against the World Champion in the quarterfinals (now they go right to finals). I was nervous! But it was made worse when I was called to the anti-doping control between rides. We only had two hours between the rides and I spent most of an hour sitting in a room without a toilet, without drinks but with a little pee cup — we were in southern Italy where it was very warm and I was very dehydrated.

I spoke no Italian, the nurse spoke no English and she would not let me leave the room after I entered it — alone. It felt cell-like after a few minutes. I was trapped.

My team knew not where I was and time was passing. To make a long story short, one of my teammates finally knocked on all the doors … and found me! By that time hot tears were streaming down my face. She ran and fetched me a couple of cold drinks, and voila’ — no problem! By then I was shattered. At the starting line, I was so nervous that I literally fell over (this in the era before the starting gate). As I lay on the concrete and my adversary rolled by me — to start again — I felt acute embarrassment. Luckily this was in the pre-information age and so my error was seen by few and reported by … no one.

Perhaps if you wonder why I’ve chosen to follow Taylor ‘round the world — it could be to spare him experiences like that one!

I won the pursuit just once at the Worlds —toward the end of my career and then — just barely — taking the lead in the final lap and winning by a hair.

Taylor is just starting out on this adventure and lacking a crystal ball — I’ll decline to predict the future, except to say — the future, is now!

And yes in closing — we did hear God Save the Queen tonight (women’s team pursuit). But the diversity of champions tonight was impressive: French, Australian, German, British and American.
While Taylor is at anti-doping — we’ve ordered him a full plate of food and tomorrow — it’s the Kilo ... just for fun.

Stay tuned!
-Connie