Spotlights of Day 2
-From Dresden to Prague
A Ride of Contrast-
Our second stage was “only” 160 km, so we allowed ourselves a slightly later start. Before turning to the road, we made a stop at the Department of Neurosurgery in Dresden. We were warmly welcomed to follow the morning rounds. Afterwards, Jon gave a talk on traumatic brain injury in cyclists, a topic that sparked lively discussion and many questions from the team. Coffee and cookies with the department head sealed the visit, and soon we were back in the saddle.
The morning was cold and misty, just 4°C, as we followed the Elbe river south. By late morning, the sun finally broke through, giving us a taste of spring in the middle of autumn. Spirits were high, until tragedy struck. Jon hit some roadside furniture, crashed, and suffered a concussion along with suspected broken ribs. His helmet took the worst of the impact — a reminder to all of us why helmets matter. After making sure he was safe and arranging transport, we reluctantly pushed on, keeping Jon in our thoughts.
With quick roadside noodles to refuel, we faced the day’s only serious climb. Ten kilometers of steady effort took us over the ridge, followed by a glorious descent into the valley that would lead us to Prague. Sunshine, open roads, and the shared rhythm of the ride carried us through, even as our minds stayed with Jon.
As if the day hadn’t offered enough drama, our attempt to capture drone footage ended with the drone sinking into the river… Another story for the books.
A day of highs and lows, science and cycling, challenges and camaraderie. Exactly what this journey is about.
Special thanks to Professor Ilker Eyuepoglu and Alina Herrmann for the heart-warming morning!
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