Today’s entry comes from Team Type 1 media and communications director Sean Weide. It’s his responsibility to make sure the team and its sponsors get the maximum exposure for their message, which includes inspiring people who are affected by diabetes.
The race that you see and read about each day at the Tour of Missouri is only one of several taking place at the event itself.
What you aren’t seeing is the rush to get course marshals and traffic control in place, team staff trying to get water bottles and feed bags prepared, mechanics scurrying to check equipment and members of the media trying their best to keep up to speed on everything that’s going on.
In this age of online, streaming video, Twitter and plenty of cell phones and cameras in the team cars, you wouldn’t think there is much that goes unnoticed or unreported. But twice yesterday, that was the case.
The first was a crash involving three of Team Type 1’s riders. Fortunately, everyone was up and going. But few knew about it until the television broadcast last night (not even the race commissaires). The other incident involved a spectator who got a little too close to the riders and was hit by one of them. He didn’t go down, but she ended up with a broken arm.
The daily rush behind the scenes can be stressful. Team Type 1’s soigneurs – who are charged with giving massages, preparing the feed bags, doing the laundry, etc. – are always trying to stay a step ahead. On today’s stage, they hurriedly drove from the feed zone (halfway through the 102-mile race) to the finish to have cold drinks and towels ready at the finish.
At the end of the day, even I find myself chasing the riders down to make sure they’re properly attired for the podium presentation. It’s the best opportunity to showcase our sponsors and making sure they have their Nike Max Optics glasses from VSP Vision Care well-placed for the award presentation.
Filed under: Team Type 1, Tour of Missouri | Tagged: Team Type 1, VSP Vision Care, Tour of Missouri, Sean Weide
