Bulk Pain ... I always look at the motorcycle ... I can see how far he has to lean over going into that corner so I can gauge…"
Earlier this week Bradley Wiggins took the leaders Yellow Jersey in stage two at Paris Nice professional cycling race, after he tweated this "Sean Yates hasn't changed a bit, Classic" with a link to a You Tube clip of his SKY | PRO CYCLING - DS Sean Yates. The clip of Sean Yates is his famous time trial victory at the tour de france stage 6 Liévin - Wasquehal, a 52 km individual time trial on Friday, July 8 1988. Yates who was 28 at the time and riding for Fagor clocked the fastest time, at tour record speed completing the 52 km in 1 hour 3 minutes and twenty two seconds, at an average speed of 49.2372 kmh.
Race reports state that on the day of the race there was a very strong tail wind. Yates said "I know well that my performance was helped by the wind." Yates had set his time in the morning, as the day progressed the wind died down with some riders being slowed by light rain. The race favourites did not have the advantage of the tail wind. Yates remarked, "I am as surprised as anyone, though I know I'm a good rider. It is my first major victory in a time trial."
Tour de France Stage 6 Friday July 8th 1988 Liévin - Wasquehal 52 km Individual Time Trial 1st Sean Yates: 1hr 3min 22sec 49.2372 kmh 2nd Roberto Visentini 3rd Tony Rominger
Sean Yates also won a stage at the Vuelta a España that year, racing most of his career as a domestique, Yates maintains to this day the he "loves riding a bike -something that grabs you gets in your blood, it is an obsession."
Yates told Rouleur Magazine a couple of years ago, that back then when he raced he only trained one way, on the big ring with one gear, 52 x 17, no matter what the terrain. He spoke about winning and used track day sessions at Brands Hatch on his motorcycle as an example, not liking the idea that anyone could pass him. If you can get your hands on a copy of Rouleur(Issue Seven) you'll be glad you did, the article on Yates is comprehensive.
The video is as Wiggins says - Classic. Introduced by Richard Keys, Yates talks to Paul Sherwin about the win. He said he thinks about the pain that's in front of him, "bulk pain". In the time trial he used a 54 x 12 and 13. On cornering and risk taking, he said he looks ahead at the lead motorcycle and the lean angle of the motorcycle to gauge the corner, "I always look at the motorcycle .. I can see how far he has to lean over going into that corner so I can gauge…"
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