Phil Gaimon to race Fabian Cancellara for charity No Kid Hungry
Ex-professional rider and founder of the highly acclaimed Phil's Cookie Fondo, looks likely to take on the challenge of racing Fabian Cancellara. In response, cycling fans have donated thousands of dollars
Retired pro-cyclist Fabian Cancellara invited ex-professional Phil Gaimon to race him at one of his bike challenges. The invitation came after Gaimon's sold out book "Draft Animals" suggested that Cancellara may have used a motor to win the 2010 Tour of Flanders, which he flatly denied.
Cancellara responded by inviting Phil Gaimon to take part in one of his Chasing Cancellara events in 2018 last November: “Hi Phil Gaimon, I actually don’t know you but I kindly invite you to beat me at one of my eight Chasing Cancellara races, next year, in 2018. You choose the date out of five countries.I am very curious to see how much watts you can push! Start training!”
This week Cancellara re-affirmed the invite in La Gazzetta dello Sport "I’ve challenged Gaimon to go up against me. Let's see how many watts Gaimon has. I’ve still got some good numbers, even if not for very long because I’m not on form. He should come to my races, there are nine to choose from, so we can see how good he is.”
Fabian's Chasing Cancellara is a series of 9 events worldwide, starting in Mallorca in march 2018.
Last night, Phil Gaimon responded "Would you donate to a gofundme for me to race Fabian Cancellara and make a video about it? If yes, how much? Cool. I’ll make sure you can watch it for free, and you donate that money to my Chef's Cycle and No Kid Hungry page instead. Every $1 is 10 meals, you can donate here."
The former Cannondale rider hosts one of California's Premier Gran Fondo's. Phil’s Cookie Fondo takes place every October and is one of California's fastest growing bike rides and featured in Gran Fondo Guide's Top 15 Gran Fondo's for 2017. It attracts well over 1,000 riders and the 2017 edition sold out well in advance.
The book "Draft Animals" has received rave reviews at Sports Illustrated and Road.cc. Supplies are limited, but you can grab a signed one from Phil's Cookie Shop.
About Draft Animals
Like countless other kids, Phil Gaimon grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete. But unlike countless other kids, he actually pulled it off. After years of amateur races, hard training, living out of a suitcase, and never taking “no” for an answer, he finally achieved his goal and signed a contract to race professionally on one of the best teams in the world.
Now, Gaimon pulls back the curtain on the WorldTour, cycling’s highest level. He takes readers along for his seasons in Europe, covering everything from rabid, water-bottle-stealing Belgian fans, to contract renewals, to riding in poisonous smog, to making friends in a sport plagued by doping. Draft Animals reveals a story as much about bike racing as it is about the never-ending ladder of achieving goals, failure, and finding happiness if you land somewhere in-between.
The book has launched with great reviews from Sports Illustrated and Road.cc being hailed an "Honest and engaging account of one rider's life at (or near) the top of the sport."
