Again in August, Pete Stetina broke from his typical race schedule to deal with a distinct kind of problem. Earlier within the yr, he had set his sights on the Mt. Washington Hill Climb, with the aim of claiming the course report, one which his father had held for 17 years. One of many hardest hill climbs within the U.S., and arguably the world, this problem was not simply private but additionally meant to function a becoming exclamation level on Pete’s lengthy and profitable racing profession.
A climbing specialist in his World Tour days, Pete spent months coaching particularly for this problem, dropping weight and making a climbing-specific frankenbike. He was very clear and public about his intentions and seemingly fairly assured in his means so as to add his identify to the listing of legendary report holders. However issues don’t at all times work out precisely as we deliberate or hoped, even for extremely educated professionals and intensely fierce opponents like Pete Stetina.
The quick movie Feeding the Rat most likely began with the intention of chronicling the glory of Pete Stetina’s record-breaking Mt. Washington Hill Climb. It changed into an introspective have a look at a aggressive bicycle owner dealing with failure and dealing with the uncertainty of his future as he winds down his skilled biking profession. We will’t think about the choice to retire is a simple one for lifelong aggressive athletes like Pete.
Whereas Pete could also be using off into the sundown of his skilled bike racing profession, we doubt this would be the final we see and listen to from him. The Lifetime Grand Prix and varied different races will look a bit of totally different with out him there, however we sit up for seeing what challenges and occasions are subsequent for one in every of highway and gravel’s most interesting.
peterstetina.com
