I’ve spent a lot time thinking about this moment, what it would look like, what it would feel like and what I would say.

And then I had to spend a lot of time making peace with the idea that this moment might not ever happen. But here I am. I can honestly say that without all of you, all of my supporters, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.

When I set out on this journey, this quest for that elusive Olympic medal, a few years ago I thought it was just about me, just about my own quest for something I thought I needed, something I thought was missing. Now the origin of that drive is so far in the rear view mirror I can’t remember from where it came.

But thanks to all of you and your incredible support I realized I’ve already found what I was searching for and it turns out I didn’t have to go to Rio to find it. And right about the time I realized that I had found what I was looking for I realized that this Olympics has become about so much more than just me. It’s become about all of us.

So now I am on my plane to Rio and I am still chasing that medal, not just for me but for all of us, because so many of you have had a hand in this over the years.  So thank you so much for all of the support and let’s see about bringing home that medal after all.

I suppose it’s only appropriate that a saga which began with a sleepless night ended with a sleepless night. I woke up at 2:45am to a voicemail informing me that the CAS panel settled on a 6-month sanction starting September 10^th, 2015, the date I accepted the provisional suspension. It means that I miss the upcoming World Championships and ultimately the entire winter season.  As hard as it is to sit on the sidelines while my peers are competing, I recognize that a rule was broken and a price must be paid. I maintain full responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment as handed down by the CAS.  Looking ahead, I am thankful that the big goal of qualifying for my third U.S. Olympic Team and competing for a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games is still very much in play.

The last few months have provided ample time for introspection.  I’ve had a lot of time to think about what is important in life and where cycling, and more specifically bike racing, fits into the bigger picture. What has been most helpful was the incredible support from friends, family, and acquaintances I’ve made along the way.  The emails, text messages, phone calls and social media messages flowed in and really showed me what’s important.  And it’s not standing on the podium of bike races.  It’s the journey.  It’s the adventures.  It’s the lifelong relationships made along the way. I’ve been very fortunate to have made some great friends and met some great people over my years in the sport and that’s something that will I carry with me for the rest of my life.  I think only through the events of the last several months could I have learned that lesson so clearly.

So now I head into the final chapters of my career armed with this fantastic new perspective on life and sport.  I have a new understanding of the true value of sport, the gift of sport as well as the limits of sport.  There is so much life to live outside of sport and by the same token there is so much richness added to life by sport.  I feel like I’m in a unique position now to really enjoy the process and fully appreciate my last run at the Olympics.

To everyone who supported me over the last few months, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.  Your support and encouragement helped me weather the storm and stay focused on the end goal.  Thank you again and I look forward to seeing all of you out on the road.

Sincerely,

Bobby Lea

One of Bobby’s fantastic sponsors, Cuore, provides custom kits to highlight all of his other great sponsors and supporters. Longtail Creative, responsible for the design, are selling the ktis through their website. You can support Bobby and his sponsors by clicking here and purchasing a kit. The sales will directly help Bobby get to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

PURCHASE KITS HERE

ON A CHILLY AUTUMN morning in Washington, DC, with the sun still catching its last bit of sleep, the Lea family clusters around the youngest, Syd, 26, getting him ready for a 110-kilometer ride they will take together at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge, an event that pairs mainstream and intellectually challenged riders.

“Baah-BEE, last year I was COLD,” Syd protests to his brother, who is encouraging him to remove a layer of clothing on what promises to become a fine morning.

Bobby Lea, 28, smiles indulgently. “It was bad weather last year, Syd,” he says. “This will be different.” Bobby nods toward his mother, who is also fussing over Syd. “Mom hates to be cold, too,” Bobby says. “She’s dressed for five hours at 35 below.”

Read full article on Bicycle Magazine.

US trackman Bobby Lea will soon be on the boards of Paris fighting for the World pursuit gold medal, so our ‘6 Day’ expert, Ed Hood, talked to Bobby after a successful outing at the Berlin 6. With over twenty Elite titles to his name, there’s a good chance of adding a Rainbow jersey to that total in the French capital.

The USA team has a realistic contender for a medal in Bobby Lea who took bronze in the London World Cup omnium and has recently been polishing his form on the six day tracks. Originally Bobby was to be riding the omnium; a combination of the flying lap, 40 K points, the kilometre, pursuit, elimination and scratch race. But as there is now a clash between the pursuit and the omnium he has opted to go for just the pursuit race. The 2015 track Worlds will be staged in France’s new National Velodrome in South West Paris, between 18 – 22 February. Here’s what he had to say to PEZ when he was preparing to ride the omnium and not the pursuit….

Read full interview on PEZ

Bobby Lea claimed third place in the men’s omnium at a UCI Track Cycling World Cup meet on Sunday, the first American men’s omnium World Cup medal in history.

The meet took place in Guadalajara, Mexico and was the first stop of three. The 31-year-old Lea won Saturday’s individual pursuit race, part of the six-event omnium.

Lea rode to sixth in Sunday’s kilometer time trial to move into third overall with two races left. He then battled hard in the flying lap and the points race to secure bronze….
Read more at VeloNews