Local Cyclist Does a Tour de Europe

Cycling through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy was no easy feat for Isaac Goren. The race challenged him mentally and physically.

"Just the thought of being on a mountain bike for over 400 miles at 6,500 feet, you have to be crazy," said the Calabasas resident.

Goren participated in the Transalp race, which took place in June. Goren and his riding partner Gilad Angel were two of about 1,100 racers that were competing. Though he did complete the race, Goren did not place in the top ten. Before the race, Goren had recovered from a downhill accident and the Transalp refreshed his confidence. But more importantly, the bond solidified between him and his partner is one of the most treasured memories from the experience, he said.

"Before the race we came up with certain agreements. One, we were going to become friends and that we were going to be honest with each other," Goren said. "We also agreed to finish every single day in one piece and that we would watch out for each other, because it's always about the other person."

Angel and Goren had met five years ago at another bike race for cystic fibrosis in Israel. One of the obstacles they both had to overcome was not being able to train with each other, as Angel lived in Israel.

"Isaac was crazy enough to join such a race," Angel said. "He was the first name that popped into my head when I read about the race on the Internet."

While both men considered the race one of the toughest they had ever participated in, they had fun. They had so much fun the first day that they almost missed the cut off time by 11 minutes, which Goren recalls with laughter.

But the Transalp wasn't always pleasant.

"When you're riding on a cliff, you don't want to look down and in the distance you can see a helicopter lifting somebody off and you wonder if something could happen to you," said Goren. "It would rain, hail and be freezing sometimes, you were just miserable as you rode downhill with mud all over you  focusing on not falling."

They duo were one of 11 teams representing Israrel. Goren had always wanted to represent his country in an event such as the Transalp. The 8-day race would culminate every night with dinner and an awards ceremony for that days winners.

"The Europeans would have beer, they can handle it," Goren said laughing in his Calabasas home.

Riders went through different towns every day, some were really small and picturesque, Goren said. The residents participated in the race as well, some would cheer and others would pour water from their hoses. One girl handed Goren candy.

"You're drinking supplements and even though you bought the latte flavored one they still taste bad after drinking them for so long," he said. "The candy was so refreshing."

The team would go to sleep at 10 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m. to resume the race. One of the team's major sources of support was Anat Einav and Ady. Anat was in charge of logistics, like scoping out the map for the days race and making sure their equipment was there. Ady was the team mechanic.  

"Isaac and Gilad had to work on their long distance relationship, because during the training program they couldn't ride together on a daily basis, but they still managed to demonstrate a perfect relationship during the race," Einav said. "Isaac was always smiling when he arrived at the finish line, he enjoyed every bit of the race . . . even on days when they arrived in the pouring rain."

During the training process Goren would sometimes hear negative comments from fellow bikers, which he would dismiss. Had he been younger, he said, he might have completed the race just to spite them, but he knows that wasn't his motivation.

"All you really need is to have one other person support you. Whatever it is just go out and do it," Goren said. "Believe in yourself, have a vision and have a coach whether it's a friend or book."

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