The Classics
Emotions Through the Lens
Photos: Jered and Ashley Gruber
For a few weeks in spring, the professional peloton’s campaigns are fought on ancient European roads steeped in tradition. The elements, terrain, and competition often make these events the most feared for the participants and the most exciting for the fans. The passion for these one-day races, winner take all, is unrivaled by any other race on the calendar. Heavy doses of experience, endurance, and suffering are mandatory to excel at the classics. Before the pleasure, there is always pain. A certain sadness seems to creep in when the spring classics wind down but there is always next year.