In a race like this a solo racer may ride the bike by themselves but they are still very much part of a team. It’s not uncommon for racers to finish the race and proclaim that they have had the easy job. If everything goes to plan the racer has one duty – to ride the bike. On the other hand the crew have to take care of everything else. Nutritionist, mechanic, navigator, physiotherapist, psychologist and driver are just some of the roles the crew members will undertake during the event. While it is always the ambition to have somebody who is skilled and possibly even professional in these fields, the fact remains that due to funding and time constraints, crew members tend to be friends and family members. This in itself is one of the factors that make the race such an incredible experience for everybody who becomes involved.
While the crew feed, direct and make sure the racer is in decent physical shape during the event, they are also responsible for lifting the racer through the inevitable low periods (as can be seen in the accompanying photo!). A good crew member knows that this can be done by saying the right things and knowing when to say them. The crew are also the channel by which people can offer their support for a racer and by which supporters are kept informed of the racers progress.
The crew members go through every mile with their racer(s), sometimes with less sleep and generally with greater stress. It is a far cry from their day to day existence and the challenges they face during the race mean that the finish line holds a massive sense of accomplishment for everybody who gets there.