Anatomy of a Photo: Sean Yates V. 2.0

"What we have here is a failure to communicate." photo by Andrew Hood

Sweet Jesus, here is a DS you can’t bluff. Having Raas, Tchmil or Sean Yates as a director must make you a better rider; you will be getting little sympathy from the team car with one of these guys behind the wheel. Some ex-racers really let go when they retire but only Sean Yates looks meaner and leaner after he quits the pro peloton. This photo is quite a contrast to an old photo from his early years in the professional ranks.

We have always held Sean in very high esteem. He has always appeared unstoppable, indestructible, a cyclist who actually might end up winning a bar fight. I bet he can put some of the present climbers on the Sky team in a spot of bother on the flats any time he rides with them. He even looks bandaged up here like he went down in a corner. And that black wrist band, I reckon it is a HTFU, Rule V special. No need to speak to a rider when he drops back to the team car to moan about the work being done on the front for Cav, just a quick look towards his black wrist band is all it takes.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

View Comments

  • Holy. Shit.

    I had no idea that I might actually want to wear rubber wristbands again. Now that's a cause...

  • The guy who took the photograph deserves a medal just for daring to stand so close and point a camera at him....looks like he wasn't impressed.

  • @tomb

    3 pack of HTFU wristbands ordered.

    I remember seeing these on the CSC team some years ago. Can you post the URL where you got them from?

    Actually, I've always thought the coolest thing about Yates was how fun it was to properly pronounce his first name "Shourn." Kinda like: @Frank. you suddenly feel an urge to speak with a Hercule Poiroit accent when in his presence.

  • I really like the fact that so many retired PROs stay fit & still ride. That doesn't happen with many other sports or the athletes. They just let themselves go. Yet another beautiful thing about being a cyclist - when your bibs feel like a girdle you know you need to quit fucking about and start riding more. Or else.

    Definitely must be tough to go back to the team car and try to complain to Yates that you're having a hard day.

    Speaking of Rule V...pretty impressive sprint win today after a meeting with the pavement.

  • Fuck Ya Gianni! That'd be a hard relationship as a racer; so much wisdom, but I'd be afraid to ask. Kind of like a drill instructor.

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