Kreiz Breizh Elites - Success isn't always guaranteed
Success is never guaranteed; always remember that.
Life is about ups and downs. It's not always smooth sailing; it's not always your day, and things don't always go according to plan. It's how we deal with these tests and challenges that define us as a team.
During Stage 3 of KBE, we took control of the race, securing the leader's jersey with Jack Rootkin-Gray, holding a slim advantage of 3 seconds. Our aim for the 4th and final stage was simple: Protect Jack and win the GC overall.
As the weather turned with heavy downpours and a technically challenging stage navigating many roundabouts, an oil spill on the road caused Jack to crash, sliding down the road along with our hopes of victory. It was an unforeseen challenge that no one saw coming, but all was not lost for the team.
In the face of adversity, the team showed their true colours. Zeb Kyffin, along with Harry Birchill, were involved in a 20-man move up the road, and at one point, Zeb became the virtual leader. However, as others rode across to this group, Zeb slipped down to 2nd on GC. The brutal finishing circuit made it challenging for the team car to reach the riders. With quick thinking, the team resorted to handing bottles with tactical messages to support their riders. Zeb and Harry tried to get a small gap to the eventual winner, but he proved to be too strong, and Zeb finished fourth on the stage, securing second overall.
Finishing second on GC is the team's best result ever at KBE, but after securing the leader's jersey on the penultimate day, it's almost bittersweet. This shows the development of the team and how high the standards are set amongst the team.
Team Owner Richard Pascoe said, "KBE quite simply, you have to look at everything in the context of where our ambitions lie, and not winning shows how far the bar has been raised. Success, real success, is how far the staff have come and how well we've done in engaging our partners and sponsors. The moment that we are building within our team shows a real eye for progression. It's not about where we want to be currently; it's where we want to finish on this journey."
Success is not a straight path, and life often throws unexpected challenges our way. The Team's journey at KBE serves as a reminder that despite our best efforts, success is never guaranteed. What truly matters is how we respond to setbacks, support each other as a team, and grow from the experience. KBE showed how far the team has come in such a short space of time. As a team, we regroup, learn from this, and we go again, stronger.
