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Home > 2004 Games Highlights > Hamilton, Guttierrez, Lance and, Of Course...Al Corcoran

Hamilton, Guttierrez, Lance and, Of Course...Al Corcoran

Tom Cornell

Ummm... who?!?

The world of cycling has its big names but that last one sticks out in the pantheon of the elites even though, to the best of my knowledge, he's never ridden in the Tour or the Giro. Heck, the U.S. Transplant Games cycling events may be the first time he's been in the saddle, for all I know. So why does he break away from the others (in my mind at least)?

Well, every time I saw him, whether at the pre-race briefing, the start of the time trial or every lap of the 20k criterium, his face beamed like a man who knew he owned this race...even from the back of the pack. See, Al had some reasons not to smile that day. That week he'd said his final goodbyes to two old and cherished friends.

Heros aren't made on easy days. They are born in the midst of sorrow, pain and grief. When the lesser of us bow down, heros rise up...and smile. They lead us out of our sorrow, pain and grief and make us better than we were a moment ago. I met a lot of new heros during that week, but on cycling day, when I hurt and wasn't sure what I'd gotten myself into, Al's smile helped push me through and made me a better racer and person.