Overcoming Defeat

Alberto Contador scored a gutsy stage win and rode into the red jersey on Wednesday. Photo: Graham Watson www.grahamwatson.com

This week's posting comes courtesy of Alberto Contador's never give up performance and Ash Cash. If you are one of the fortunate viewers to be able to watch the Vuelta on NBC Universal or via an online streaming site, then you cannot help but admire Alberto's efforts. On the toughest mountain days, he has constantly attacked Rodriguez, hoping to gain valuable seconds and move closer to the red leader's jersey.

For three epic mountain days, they battled with the opposite result - Rodriguez gained a few seconds on Contador. As a viewer, I was convinced that Rodriguez was the stronger rider and barring an accident, he was going to be wearing the red jersey on Sunday in Madrid. Alberto, however, refused to accept defeat and after every stage would tell Rodriguez he was coming after him tomorrow.

Tomorrow came on Wednesday, a day few, if any, expected to be very exciting. Contador snuck into a large break with over 50 km remaining. He used his teammates to perfection, won the stage and took a solid lead in the overall general classification. Rodriguez had no answer, riding across the line appearing shattered from the day's events.

So, you ask, what does this have to do with this guy Ash Cash? Ash publishes a daily email titled "Daily Word." On Tuesday, the day before Contador's epic ride, his daily word was titled Overcome Defeat. Ash was kind enough to allow me to share it with you.

"Happy Tuesday my soldiers and survivors! Welcome to the day that you finally say enough is enough! Today's Daily Word is dedicated to overcoming defeat! Defeat is defined as having been beaten in a battle or demoralized and overcome by adversity. Life is a challenge but in no way should you ever let it beat you or demoralize you! Every single thing you go or are going through is designed to simply make you stronger! No circumstance is ever permanent unless you give up! I know there may be a lot going on in your life by by all means ITS ALWAYS TOO EARLY TO QUIT!! In life, you will never be given more then you can handle! If your obstacles are seeming too much for you to bear then you have not fully recognized your power! OVERCOME DEFEAT!! Recognize your power and use it to make you situation better! When all else fails take a step back from the situation, relax, breathe and start over! Sometimes taking a step back can help you take a step forward! You are more powerful than you even realize! Don't let your power go to waste! Stay strong and Tell life you are not Having it! Nothing can stop you but you!!"

-Ash'Cash

We are never going to go through life without adversity. It is how we deal with that adversity that either makes us stronger or defeats us. When the chips are down and it looks like you've been dealt a bad hand, do you quit? Or do you decide that, as Ash said in his Daily Word, that it is too early to quit and that you refuse to lose?

"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits."

-Richard M. Nixon

Ash'Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.

This Is Going To Be An Exciting Month!

Aloha from Maui! As I enjoy my vacation in Maui, doing my tradewinds training, I started to think about about the month ahead.. If you are as passionate about cycling as I am, the next 30 to 45 days is going to be jam packed with top-notch cycling events.

First up are the Olympics. It is the eve of the men's road race and, although it may not have the drama of the Tour or a spring classic, we should be treated to an exciting finish. Considering the way he won the last two sprint stages at the Tour, if Cavendish can avoid the crashes and make it over Box Hill he has a great shot to win gold. Sunday's treat is the women's road race followed by the time trial events on Wednesday. The track events kick off on Thursday through Tuesday the 7th with BMX and Mountain Bike events on Aug 10-12. Not sure if all of the events will be shown by NBC (at least in the US) but definitely check online at Cycling CEO to look for live, online streaming.

Running concurrently during the Olympics are the Eneco Tour in Europe and the Tour of Utah in the US. The Eneco Tour marks the return of Alberto Contador to the peloton. I would expect that he will use this event to get his race legs under him in preparation for the Vuelta.

The Tour of Utah started as a domestic stage race and recently has increased its stature as a UCI World Tour event. The organizers have done a great job of creating stages which, combined with the dry heat, will create some challenging conditions for the riders. Although most of the teams will use this as a preparation for the Pro Cycling Challenge, I expect the domestic pro teams to put on a great show to prove they can compete.

August 18th gives us the start of the last grand tour, the Vuelta a Espana. Bjarne Riis, the Director of Team Saxo Bank/Tinkoff, has stated unequivocally that Contador must win this event. If Joaquim Rodriguez can ride with the same form he showed in the Giro and Chris Froome isn't burned out by having completed the Tour and the Olympics, we should be treated to some great battles in the mountains!

In the US, we will be treated to the second running of the US Pro Cycling Challenge on August 20-26. I am sure we will see some good racing but how good remains to be seen. As a cycling fan, it is great to see professional cycling in the US. As a competitive cyclist, I hope that it is more competitive this year than last year (I thought some of the stages were downright boring to watch!).

As always, if you have questions, comments, thoughts, etc., please leave them below or send me an email. And, if you like what you see here, head on over to the Cycling CEO website to see more exciting information.