Experience Life, July/August 2007
Breaking Away
No longer content to simply watch, more and more Americans are traveling to the Tour de France to ride.
by Teri Cettina
Every year, Joe DeYoung spends countless hours training for the biggest race in cycling: the Tour de France. When the weather is good, DeYoung is out on his bike, doing interval work to boost his cardiovascular power and climbing the most challenging hills he can find to prepare for riding in the French Alps. In the winter, the Chicago-area resident attends up to five indoor group cycling classes each week. He also teaches a weekly two-hour “Cycle Camp” class designed to get cyclists ready for the spring season.
Despite his intense training, DeYoung will never vie for the Tour’s signature yellow jersey. The 55-year-old computer supervisor travels to France every summer to cycle the same legs of the Tour as the pros, but he’s there as a tourist.
Full article text available upon request.
[<<< Back to Teri Cettina Writing Portfolio]
