Perhaps no other sport requires a bigger life shake-up than professional cycling — especially if you weren’t born in Western Europe.
Take Joe Dombrowski. Two years ago, he was an engineering student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, which is about 45 miles from his hometown of Marshal, Virginia. As of January, Dombrowski’s a member of Team Sky Pro Cycling and lives by himself in a two-bedroom apartment near the port in Nice, France (which is about 4,200 miles from Marshal). He doesn’t own a car, barely speaks the native tongue, and only knows a handful of people in the area.
To pass the time, Dombrowski does what all pro cyclists do when they are not racing: He trains, and trains, and trains some more.
“I’m not complaining, but it’s definitely not easy,” says the 21-year-old who looks like he’s going on 16. “It’s a big adjustment to go from being around friends and family to living in a foreign country where everything is so unfamiliar. But it’s a challenge I’m excited to be taking on. I love riding and I love racing, and this is what you have to do if you want to succeed at the top level.”
Aiding Dombrowski in this journey is a Pinarello Dogma 2, the famed Italian bike maker’s flagship road racing machine. RoadBikeReview caught up with the young climbing specialist at a coffee shop in old town Nice. Here’s a look at his trusted training partner. Check back soon to see more photos and read a full feature from our lengthy and wide-ranging interview.
-
-
-
×
Frame Pump
Nothing says training bike like a frame pump. The ski strap is from a shop near his hometown in Virginia.
-
×
Crank
An SRM power meter is mater with a 7970 edition of Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting gruppo.
-
×
Casette
With Shimano’s new 11-speed groups still in short supply, Dombrowski and his teammates are still running the predecessor.
-
-
-
-
×
Name Tag
Expect to see this name on the startlist for May’s Giro d’Italia, where he’ll ride in support of reigning Tour de France champ Bradley Wiggins.
-
-
-
×
Pedal
Speedplay is not a team sponsor, but knee-pain issues earned Dombrowski a special concession.
-
-
×
Kit
It only makes sense that Britain’s top team is outfitted by the country’s premier cycling apparel maker.
-
-
-
-
-
×
Nice Spot
Nice is best known for views like this, but there are myriad climbs in the other direction.
Get rid of that pump. Get the Lezyne Morph Road M, done. And cmon, 2 years living in France he can barely speak a word? and it’s a foreign country? I speak 4 languages and have lived in North America, Western Europe, and Asia throughout my life. I feel like it’s a privilege to be able to live such life. There is nothing foreign about any country, only the mind of the individual.
He actually just moved to France in January. Before that he raced on a US-based development team.
Man, that is one ugly bike!!
You have to get ride of that pump asap. man. I love the dogma but that it is destroying the look.
I quite like the pump,gives it a retro look.keep it.
t
LOL looks like the ugly pump is getting more attention than the Doggie. Go figure!!
Get ‘em Joe!
Another nice article on Joe D just published in Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/sports/wp/2013/02/27/cyclings-road-forward/?hpid=z4