[people cheering] Alec Briggs: Rock and roll sounds so cliché
to say. It’s whatever that person wants to make of it. No one’s really getting judged.
[people cheering] Fabian Cancellara: What is amazing is that
how many people come from all over the world, come to Berlin for the Last Man Standing and
get your own experience because just to explain and to talk, it's not enough.
[bicycle sliding] Hank: How are you feeling?
Participant: Kind of nervous. Hank: [laughs] Me too, man.
[bicycles crashing] Hank: I think we're adept at it.
Manon Lloyd: I’m actually shaking. [people cheering]
Alec: It's perfect. [laughs] It’s so good. [music]
Hank: That's right. I'm back. Last year, I took part in the Rad Race here in Berlin.
It was a baptism of fire, but I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Although I know
what to expect, I know someone who won't, so I've invited along a fixed-gear multiple
European champion and World Cup winner, Manon Lloyd.
[music] Do you have the same feeling as you do to
go into a normal race? Manon: No, I feel more nervous now because
it’s something I’ve never done before. I don't feel very prepared because I haven’t
done much training on a fixed-gear bike for this, so yes.
Hank: But you’re excited at the same time. Manon: I am excited, yes, because I’m in
new, different-- Hank: It's new territory.
Manon: Yes. Now, if you didn't watch last year's video, the event is simple. There are
two categories. The last man standing and the last woman standing. There are multiple
heats of 10 riders. Every other lap, the last rider is eliminated. Only four go through
to the next round, until the finals where the race is on until there's one left standing.
Manon: How many women are there? How many women?
Hank: Not many. Bike races and you get a beer and sign on.
Manon: Thank you. Thanks. I’ll pass on the beer.
Hank: We've come in nice and early, so there's plenty of time to set up the bikes, check
tire pressures, but most importantly, get some practice in.
Manon: The atmosphere slowly starts to build and more and more people start arriving. I've
got to be honest, I am utterly terrified. [music]
Hank: No race starts with a beer before you race, but I guess it's the only race that
you feel like you need a beer before you race. Manon: To relax you.
[music] We've managed to get bikes from the Rad Pack,
a fixed-gear team that knows everything and anything there is to know about this kind
of racing. We also need help picking the right gear because, well, I'm used to riding a 102-inch
gear and here, I'm told we need to ride a 66-inch gear.
[music] No, I forgot my shoes, can’t race.
Hank: Follow my line. You ready? Follow my line on line three.
Manon: Wait, hang on. Fucking hell. Hank: Right on the outside. Come in here.
You want to flick it in like that.This is a tight go-kart track. Limited space to pass
on corners and they're incredibly tight and close together. This is not only a track that'll
test your bike handling, but also a track that will test your tires.
Manon: Oh my god. I hate it. Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
Rad Race Last Man Standing 2020. Thank you so much.
[applause] Hank: After we got in plenty of practice,
we caught up with two standout competitors here to battle it out. Alec Briggs, arguably
one of the best fixed-gear riders in the world and a big name in a grassroots cycling scene,
and Fabian Cancellara, Olympic and World Tour champion and a man who's dominated the tough
classics, who also fancies experiencing what the Rad Race Last Man Standing has to offer.
Fabian: It's quite special. It's different. What is amazing is how many people come from
all over the world to Berlin, to the Last Man Standing, to an indoor event like that.
It's not professional looks on the athletes. Everyone is somewhat individually has his
own character and their own vision on it, but on the other hand, he's an ambassador
for the two-wheeled world, and this community with fixed-gear bike world has its own community
and this community is big. Alec Briggs: Fixed gear seems in a weird place
because our Red Hook was such a staple and without going in it, it made some people go
and some people stay in it. I don't know but when you go to the Rad Race, you forget all
that because you're in that go kart little drome with a bunch of people having a sick
time. Riders, spectators, it was just a lovely party vibe the whole time, isn't it? It's
just that wicked balance. Hank: The stadium is filling. The atmosphere
is building. I guess it's time to see if we sink or swim. How are you feeling?
Participant: Kind of nervous. Hank: Me too, man.
[music] Fuck me.
[applause] Crashed early on. I think it took my back
wheel out. Then it was all full gas. Full gas and went in front and won it.
Participant: You still made it, mate. Hank: The start of my Rad Race didn't really
go to plan. I crashed out on the first corner and from then on it was a case of weaving
my way back through the field, back to the front of the race.
Manon: After watching the men's qualifying heats, it's now my turn to take to the track.
[music] [cheering]
As soon as the race started, all the nerves disappeared and I really started to enjoy
the event. I went for an overtake and went way too hot to a corner and went straight
into the barriers. That meant my race was over and didn't make it through to the next
round, but I guess now it's time to relax and enjoy this crazy event.
Announcer: Hank, can you please not crash on the very first turn?
Hank: Can't promise anything, man. [music]
Announcer: Five, four, three, kick it. [cheering]
Hank: Three crashes later and I was out. I lost count of the near misses, slipped wheels
and clipped barriers, just missing out on the semis by just one place. We both had a
great time at the Rad Race. I'll personally be back next year, and I hope that luck will
be on my side then. Manon: Let's take a look at how the race unfolded
for everyone else. This year's last woman standing and defending her title from last
year was Margaux Vigie.Then in the men's event, it was Alec Briggs who took the win.
Hank: How was the race for you? Alec: It was good. It was fun.
Hank: Better than last year? Alec: It was just as much jokes. If anything
it was a bit more relaxing this time. Last year was intense. Me and you first time doing
it last year. It was a bit nuts, wasn't it? We didn't know what we were getting ourselves
in for but this time it was about roll with the punches. You got a bit done over, though,
didn't you? Hank: How does it feel to have won?
Alec: It was sick man. It was good. I did want to win it. You know you would be, "I
don't really care if I win, whatever," but I wanted to but I knew it would be fun whatever
happened. Just doing that last race, I love Tobias who I was battling against. I get on
with him really well and it was just cool. He said to me on the start line, he was like,
"I hope it's just a clean race." I just love that because sometimes you get
some people like a move will happen and it kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth,
but I knew no matter what he did to me or what I did to him it would be fair play and
that was just nice. It was really good fun and it was just sick to race with him. Really
cool. Hank: Will you be back next year?
Alec: Yes. Definitely. Even if I wasn't racing, I couldn't race, I'd still come just because
the vibe's so good and it's just fun. You would you do the same? Exactly. This is sick,
but I said to Fabian, and he was asking, "What do you think about different riders and what?"
I said, well, "You tell me. Would you want to come back here?" He's like, "Yes. Of course."
It's sick. The whole thing is just wicked. Hack: I think you just got try and take your
brain out your head. [00:11:10] [END OF AUDIO]