https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/cape-epic-disappointment-has-only-fuelled-townsvilles-mountain-biking-star/news-story/8b4ee266df20f0703de3f579b4587f7b BAILY Devantier-Thomas does not know when he will next be able to compete. But when he inevitably does, the Townsville mountain biking star intends to be stronger than he was before. None of his upcoming events have been cancelled just yet, but those decisions will continue to be depend on the development of the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday marked the end of Devantier-Thomas’s two weeks in isolation after returning from South Africa. With the same walls, same indoor environment, it quickly became a long and hollow slog. But the sport scientist by day said now was an important time to keep setting goals to maintain focus, a point he has passed down to his clients. “Just because you’re forced to stay in one spot doesn’t mean your training has to stop,” Devantier-Thomas said.
“It’s hard when you don’t know when your next event is, but I’ve had a few athletes (come to me) where we’ve put in some imaginary events they can train up to. “It gives them something to do and a purpose behind the exercise; athletes feel they need a purpose for what they’re trying to do. “I think the ones who keep their routine and what they were doing prior to all of this will definitely come out stronger.” Devantier-Thomas had travelled to South Africa intent on taking on the Cape Epic — an eight day, 650km mountain biking event — which was set to begin on March 9. After raising the funds to make the travel, he and his teammate and father arrived five days early to familiarise themselves with the conditions. But the night before they were due to begin the coronavirus threat forced the event to be cancelled. Devantier-Thomas has always had an eye on arguably the biggest challenge in world mountain biking. To have it stripped away at the last minute was a bitter blow. However, with so many international athletes converging in one place, there was always doubt in his mind as to whether it would go ahead. Devantier-Thomas has put the disappointment behind him and is fixated on ensuring his mind and body are right to compete when the time is right. With a stationary indoor bike, home gym set up, and now the opportunity to get out to the mountain bike tracks in Douglas, he has the resources to keep himself fit and firing. Ultimately the virus is bigger than sport, so he has focused on what he can control as opposed to what he cannot. And come March next year, should the COVID-19 situation be resolved, he will be ready. “I spent about nine months training specifically for that race, then the day before it gets cancelled,” Devantier-Thomas said. “You sort of think you’ve wasted nine months of your life, but if you don’t laugh you’ll cry. “You have to look at it from that perspective, I learned a lot in those nine months and in the future when I go to do that race I’ll know what’s required and what level I have to be at.”
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AuthorI covered a vast range of sports and issues in my time with the Bulletin. Archives
June 2020
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