Thursday 21 August 2014

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish

Continued from 34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian

So, we made our way as fast as possible in the general direction of the Boulevard. Bear in mind that we'd just arrived and we didn't really know exactly where Boulevard was. No doubt, we'd see the finish line...depending on how many people would be there!

Hurry, hurry! We were in a hurry, but at least we didn't do what this utterly ignorant, no doubt, sport-illiterate lady did. She dashed across and was totally unaware or unconcerned that by a fraction of a second she would have caused a catastrophe! Couldn't wait for a bleeding second! Just amazing. Those who noticed what she'd done was screaming blue murder!

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
Idiota! Almost caused a calamity!

The crowd thickened as we approached. Yes, yes, I think we've made it. They're not here yet!

There were hundreds of people. Trying to get a vantage point was impossible. I sneaked into the best position I could, stick my arm outward into the air, and shot blindly. I had no way of knowing where the cyclists were, how far or close they were. A lot of those blind shots were of air. Invisible cyclists.

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
No way could I compete with the pros!
Sadly, I didn't manage to get the winner. Not at the finish line, anyway ;).

My arm wasn't long enough, nor was the aim any good! Haha.

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
Yea, nice shot!

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
The culprit who had been blocking all my one-arm shots!

Once the people blocking me rushed off to the podium, I managed to get a few shots in. Haha. Of the losers. No, just joking. Seriously. They're all winners. Throughout my journey - flat land, downhill, uphill - I would see cyclists, sometimes accompanied, other times alone, pedalling away, sweat pouring down their cheeks, rain, sun or wind, or all three, in their faces, kilometre after kilometre, day after day. Such dedication, such sacrifice. I respect these people, but I don't envy them.

Actually, even the shots I managed of the other finishers were quite bad. I realise now that they were going so fast that 1/500s wasn't good enough and I would probably have been better off using 1/800s, and pushing the ISO up.

Envying-the-pros time...

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
Do big cameras mean big pictures?

Let me show off a couple more of what I managed to catch...

I thought this officer was going to tell me off, but perhaps he was just striking his best pose...

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
Hey! You're aiming at me?
Would they notice if I were to walk off with one of these?

34th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian, the finish
Global Cycling
More of After the Race in the next post!



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