De reparto (Retrato de un actor)

Carlos Lucas gets irritated when he hears people talk about “The journey to nowhere”. He knew where he was going. If not, like so many of his companions, he would have deserted a trade in which he was always in the peloton. If one victory let him climb the podium and be the centre of attention for a few minutes afterwards it was back to anonymity. Cycling among the modest cyclists, pushing forward the leader. It seems as if the important battles are only fought at the front, but here there is spiteful elbowing and cutting in. At the edges of the road faces are left behind like blurred dots. Among those who pedal along beside him some gave up through tiredness, others suffered falls, some were disqualified for foul play. But he went on pedaling after seventy two years hoping to see the finish flag. Carlos Lucas could have been a cyclist, a cosmonaut, or a bandillero but he was a secondary actor. (Angular Producciones)