Lesson 4 The Spirit of Sports
From a Kid to a Champion
My name is Bliksem, which ____ “lightning.”
My parents named me this because they wanted me to be faster than anyone ____
Born in the Netherlands, a country with more bicycles than people, I learned ____ ride a bike almost as soon as I could walk.
I loved ____ the breeze in my hair.
When I ____ eleven, a junior bicycle race was held in our small town.
I entered the race as the youngest ____
Before the race started, I looked around the crowd, and I ____ believe my eyes!
____ hero, Gabriel Martinez, the cycling world champion, was standing there!
I ran over and asked, “You’re ____ Martinez, right? Can I have your autograph?”
He smiled and ____ “If you win, you can.”
Excited ____ what he said, I pedaled harder than ever.
I came in first ____ Gabriel was waiting at the finish line.
As ____ he handed me his autograph saying,
“You outran the others by two ____ You’re a real racer, kid!”
Since then, Gabriel has been ____ mentor.
When I turned nineteen, he brought me into his professional team, where only the most skilled ____ passionate cyclists came together.
____ felt small and insignificant.
I could sprint the fastest on flat courses, but I ____ fell behind in mountain races.
The ____ is mostly flat, so I had rarely cycled up steep slopes before.
Gabriel was ____ Bogotá, Colombia, which is high up in the Andes.
He had a lot of experience in riding on hills and mountains, so he was always the ____ to arrive at the top.
He would say, “Riding uphill is painful, but the view at the top is ____ Never stop pedaling, kid.”
Motivated by Gabriel’s encouragement, I participated eagerly in all the training ____ especially the uphill ones.
Soon after, my efforts finally paid off in one ____ the mountain courses.
As a domestique, who supports the leader and the team during a cycling race, I was riding in front of Gabriel to shield him from ____ headwind.
Our team ____ far ahead of the others.
Everything was going perfectly until I crashed due to ____ crack in the road.
All four ____ us fell in the crash, and the other teams passed us by.
I was just slightly wounded, but ____ injury was more serious.
He ____ me to continue on his behalf.
But there were a couple of more steep slopes ahead, and I ____ we had a chance.
Gabriel read my mind and ____
“Remember the view at the top. Never stop pedaling whatever it takes, kid. ____ go!”
Pedaling with all my strength, I finished ____ in that race, but I felt a sense of guilt for my fellow team members.
I should have been ____ careful.
If I had not crashed, Gabriel would have come in first place, ____ our team would have won.
Surprisingly, Gabriel gave me a gentle ____ and said,
“I knew you could do it. I’m so proud ____ you!”
For several years,
For several ____ I assisted Gabriel in races as a domestique.
As we cycled together, our ____ results flourished.
____ the time came for his retirement, Gabriel asked the members if I could lead the team in his final race.
He ____ he could no longer ride faster than me in the last sprint to the finish line and insisted that I ought to be the team leader.
I was deeply touched and ____ a burden on my shoulders.
I was ____ to make him proud.
Gabriel’s final race was the Paris-Roubaix, a ____ km race famed for its cobblestone sections.
These bumpy roads were a true test of ____ talent, and mental power for every cyclist.
As the ____ started, I focused on my strategy and my desire to win.
However, the rocky and cobblestone ____ caused a flat tire and I could not continue.
Gabriel offered me his bike without ____ saying,
“I remember your finishing the race two laps ahead of everyone ____ I first met you.
Never stop ____ kid. I’ll catch up.”
The rest of the members urged me on and we continued, ____ ourselves to our limits.
When there were only 10 km ____ in the race, Gabriel caught up with us on a new bicycle.
He cut in front of ____ and said,
“Save your energy now for the ____ sprint. We’ll help you to the finish line.”
Our ____ increased as we approached the finish line, and my teammates worked hard to support me.
When the finish line came into view, I began my final sprint with a rush of adrenaline, and our rivals were right on my tail, ____ for the same victory.
Finally, I crossed the finish ____ ahead of my competitors by a nose.
The crowd ____ tremendously.
They focused on me since I was the ____ to cross the finish line.
As I stood on the podium holding the trophy high, I felt like the ____ should go to Gabriel.
However, when I looked over, I could see the pride ____ his eyes.
He said, “That trophy ____ yours, Captain.”
It was the first time he ____ not addressed me as “kid.”
My teammates approached me as tears welled ____ in my eyes, saying,
“We’re counting on you, ____