Athlete Photo Showcase: Taylor Phinney Counters Boredom with a New Face

Universal Sports

In case you’re wondering what’s going on in the photo to the right, Taylor Phinney has the explanation (which he posted via Twitter):

“Sometimes, when I’m stuck in a hotel room for hours by myself…I wind up in front of a mirror, discovering new faces”

We’ve never thought of that method of fighting boredom, but we have to admit, it’s rather brilliant in its simplicity. And, come to think of it, this really shouldn’t come as a shock given Phinney’s sense of humor and unique vantage point on the universe, which was recently on display when we chatted with him before he competed at the Road Cycling World Championships. (read more)

VeloNews

Taylor Phinney (BMC) won the prologue of the Eneco Tour Monday and took the first leader’s jersey of the race.

“I’m (read more)

Ex-cyclist finds strength through positive outlook, son’s success

By Jason Devaney, Universal Sports

Throughout his life, small victories have mattered most to Davis Phinney.

There were the town sign sprints he and his cycling buddies would do during training rides, with each trying to reach the sign first. There was the infamous Gavia climb during the 1988 Giro d’Italia, which forced riders to pedal up a mountain with six inches of snow on the road. Phinney’s short-term goal was to get some warm clothes at the summit, which he eventually received.

Post-cycling career, Phinney’s daily victories have shifted.

“They’re having a really good conversation,” Phinney told us recently. “Or eliciting a really nice smile from someone. Or having a great cup of coffee. Or a tasty dessert. Or a really nice glass of wine. Or eating sushi with chopsticks.”

The 51-year-old Phinney’s priorities changed 11 years ago when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

His winning attitude and outlook on life, however, stayed the same. (read more)

Champion Cyclist Davis Phinney will unveil his new book, “The Happiness of Pursuit” in New York City on Wednesday, June 1 at 6pm at Barnes & Noble, Tribeca.

Author Event @ Barnes & Noble
Davis Phinney was one of America’s most successful cyclists, winning two stages of the Tour de France and an Olympic medal. Tonight he reads from The Happiness of Pursuit, which chronicles what happened after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

For two decades, Davis Phinney was one of America’s most successful cyclists. He won two stages at the Tour de France and an Olympic medal. But after years of feeling off, he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s. The body that had been his ally was now something else: a prison.

The Happiness of Pursuit is the story of how Davis sought to overcome his Parkinson’s by reaching back to what had made him so successful on the bike and adjusting his perspective on what counted as a win. The news of his diagnosis began a dark period for this vibrant athlete, but there was also light. His son Taylor’s own bike-racing career was taking off. Determined to beat the Body Snatcher, Davis underwent a procedure called deep brain stimulation. Although not cured, his symptoms abated enough for him to see Taylor compete in the Beijing Olympics. Davis Phinney had won another stage. But the joy, he discovered, was in the pursuit.

With humor and grace, Phinney weaves the narrative of his battle with Parkinson’s with tales from his cycling career and from his son’s emerging career.  The Happiness of Pursuit is a remarkable story of fathers and sons and bikes, of victories large and small. (read more)

AP/Universal Sports

Former cycling star Davis Phinney remembers a time, not too long ago, when he was certain his son Taylor Phinney would never ride a bike competitively.

That changed, the older Phinney said, when father and son caught the Tour de France in 2005.

“It kind of opened his eyes,” Davis Phinney said.

These days, the younger Phinney is the 20-year-old rising star of U.S. cycling, a tall, strong rider equally adept on the track and the roads. He the reigning USA Cycling time trial champ, a title he’ll defend Saturday at the national pro championships. Phinney is also entered in Monday’s 115-mile road race as he continues a trek toward the 2012 London Olympics.

Some may have even larger aspirations for Phinney: bringing a fresh, clean face to a sport that has an image severely tarnished. (read more)