The BMW GS Trophy is an international competition held in a dozen countries that features some of the world’s best riders.As they race a 328i sedan around a 5.8km circuit. 57 cyclists from all over the world came to compete for the trophy.Three of them are representing their country after earning their spot in the competition.
Three Players
The three players who comprise Team USA—sixteen year old Cory Call, seventeen year old Jim Duplease, and twenty-one year old Ben Phaup—arrived from California without issue, but Ben Phaup got caught in the middle of a Lufthansa strike and had to travel through no less than three countries to get to the trophy. The Virginian finally hopped into Kavaja at 4 AM.
During the course of the event was loading all of the other teams’ luggage on their support trucks. Their first real task wasn’t long after that – they had 14 other countries to ride with, beginning Day One of Seven.
To start the race off, a short course in a confined area tested how well your team could handle turns and control.It was the mental lapse of not paying attention to what the marshal said during the rules.If you don’t pay attention, your chance of winning will decrease by a lot.
Unfortunately for Team USA’s sleep-deprived and airline-abused riders, this was the case. Mindful of losing points for crossing the course edges, dropping the bike, and even dabbing a foot, Call, Duplease, and Call rode carefully and deliberately, finishing well within the three-minute time limit without any lost points. But their combined effort was simply too slow, and they finished 12th, earning only 4 points towards the overall win. The UK team earned first place with 25 points.
Phaup
A teammate of Duplease, also ran the incredibly fast time.Team USA came in third after just sucessfully finishing within three minutes of second place.
Team UK has implemented the first and 25 points while Team USA has scored 15 points. Results are so close that changes can be big; now Team USA is seventh place.
Finally, the team came together at the end of the evening, which was great to watch. So despite a disappointing start to the day one, Duplease continued whining about them being in seventh place.
