VeloHeitz

Sparticals > making of stars

I first met GRANT DAVIS at the 2006 USA Cycling SW Regional Road Camp in Flagstaff, AZ. The camp consisted of five days of riding skills and class lectures, three of those days were dedicated to field testing, used for talent id and selection to attend the UCI Tour de l’Abitibi. This particular camp is known to attract some of the most talented riders from the entire Western US.

It was during one of the evening presentations when Grant contributed his input to the conversation with a single word that instantly grabbed me to the core, it was “HUMILITY”. The conversation was about “what are the ingredients of a good rider and teammate?”. At this point of the camp, Grant had already earned his 1st place GC status with his results in the field testing ITTs. At the conclusion of the camp, Grant was invited to race with the Arizona Select Team at the prestigious UCI Tour de l’Abitibi.

Grant was training in preparation for the Tour, when on an early morning session of intervals, on a familiar road, he has his head dropped down after an interval… Grant crashes into the back of a trailer truck parked on the shoulder of the road. Grant was care flighted to the hospital were after three days of intensive strives to save his life, his parents had to make the decision. I drove down to Tempe, AZ. for the funeral, were I met the entire DAVIS Family. I was instantly introduced to the foundation of what contributed to such a gifted young bicycle rider, son, brother, student, friend and amazing human.

During one of my 2009 USAC Regional Camps (Portland) I get an email from STU DAVIS. He shares a letter that Grant has written with me. I almost fall out of the chair I’m sitting in… because the night before, I had shared Grant’s story (as I often do) as a life lesson during the evening presentation. The letter is filled with color that paints a picture of a young star that will shine with me forever. Allow me to share this representation of HONOR in the PELOTON.

“DON, I am submitting my results in the hope that I can upgrade from 4 to 3. My results are attached. However, in the Superior Road Stage Race, a Cat 3 rider was drafting off of me for minutes at a time, and at one point, I let him go through and was intentionally in part of his slipstream, but for no more than 10 seconds, and further away than about two meters, as the UCI rule book says is allowed. This did not effect the outcome of the race, but I wondered if I should not be awarded the points from that race.”

Grant Davis / Southwest Hand Cycling Team

A ghost bike was erected at the site in memory of STUART GRANT DAVIS November 8, 1989-July 3, 2006.