Yes, I\’m glad I\’m no pro! One can certainly daydream about being a pro cyclist. Even KOM! Watch a video clip of the Tour de France, and it looks exciting and glamorous. But judge not by appearances.

Things are tough all over. Job security is rare these days. We hear of companies going out of business; mergers; downsizing; layoffs. Pro cycling is no exception.

It must be hard on pro riders, wondering as each season comes to an end whether they\’ll still have their jobs when next season begins. Not all pro teams have mega-budgets, as we know. Will they retain their sponsors, and/or attract new ones? If not, what next?

Even leaving such uncertainties aside, will they stay healthy and injury-free? One crash can end a career in an instant; even a life.

Then there\’s the rigorous training: all the planning; being prepared to change, or even scrap, the training plan if need be; core work; stretching; proper diet. Not to mention adequate recovery between training rides!

There\’s always the post-pro-cycling stage of a rider\’s life. I imagine it can be difficult for pro cyclists to plan for it when their days are full of training rides, massages, jetting off to do a race halfway round the world, etc. But what will they do when they retire from pro racing? Become coaches, or sports commentators? Turn into professional \”wrenches\”?

Oh, and let\’s not forget the drug-testing! Taking an OTC medication for allergy symptoms might result in big trouble, from what I hear. Or eating tainted meat.

So I\’m glad I\’m no pro cyclist. The general consensus seems to be that pro cyclists love what they do, and wouldn\’t exchange it for anything else. But I\’d rather stay an amateur.