Comments on: Everyone Loves Molly

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:20 +0000

We are so lucky to have this caliber of people and competition in Oregon!

By: poser

poser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:33:09 +0000

honestly, you’re all lucky to have missed the race. I was 20 feet away when Molly hit the ground. it was about the most emotionally jarring thing I’ve witnessed in a race… maybe ever. I was introducing my mom to cyclocross that day, and had spent the better part of the whole race explaining racing tactics with Tonkin, Sean and Molly as examples…

“see how the guy in orange is pulling away? That’s Sean breaking – but watch, Molly will reel him in… see how she’s right back on his wheel?” By the last lap, mom was telling me, “Molly’s going to win! I can feel it – watch!”

Neither of us could even talk about it on the way home. We were just gutted.

Sean is, of course, completely deserving, and rode his heart out. I sure would have preferred to see him win it in a two-up sprint though.

By: Guy Smith

Guy Smith — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:41 +0000

I too missed the race, and what a race to miss, it would have been hard to root for anybody as like you say we love em all! But Molly does share a special place in my heart and has always been such a help to me! The pic is just filled with the painfull emotions so much its almost static.

By: chr15

chr15 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:48:52 +0000

Dead right about that photo.

I posted a link to it on my blog i’ve had so many comments about it. How much disappointment, frustration and sadness it shows…

A thousand words…

By: Russell @ Upper Echelon

Russell @ Upper Echelon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:36:19 +0000

That photo is one of the best…. and worst…at the same time. It really captures the moment. It’s amazing. But it’s Molly, so it hurts to look at it. But she accomplished so much this year and we are all so proud of her. Lost the race, but won everyone’s hearts. What would you rather win, really? Hoping for the best for her at nationals!

By: snarkypants

snarkypants — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:47:25 +0000

Thanks KSB – you’re right. The guys over at PDXcross are true professionals and some of the best photogs I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I know which of those wily picture-makers took this one and I’ll pass your thoughts along to him.

By: Ksb

Ksb — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:43:06 +0000

For us not in the PDXosphere, nothing communicates the feelings of Molly’s crushing disappointment or our empathy than that friggin’ awesome photo. You can just feel the weight of the despair, the air gone. Christ, I love that photo and I guess by association therefore, Molly too. Whoever took it, please enter it in some sports photog comps or get that thing in ESPN, the mag.

By: David

David — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:30:18 +0000

Thanks for this, and thanks to Sean, Erik and Molly for reminding us that in addition to the costumes, zaniness and fun, Cross Crusade is about great bike racing.

By: erikv

erikv — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:25:29 +0000

Nice, thanks for that. I hope she can ease the pain with a little stars and stripes come December.

By: Camille

Camille — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:33:16 +0000

Jeebus, Heidi! Trying to eat an english muffin, and now you’ve gone and made me cry.

Wonderful post.