2004 CX Nationals

When asked to describe his 2004 CX Nationals experience, Ben Jacques-Maynes replied:

I had a physical, the bodily version of a mechanical. I had a great start, was third wheel into the first corner. For the next lap and a half I was trying to put down the power, but thinking my legs had gone bad, that I didn’t prepare enough, and everyone was coming by me. After I stopped struggling, I sat in the draft through the start to recover and immediately recognized a major asthma attack. I almost pulled over right then, as I knew I needed my inhaler. I rolled around looking for anyone I knew in the crowd, and saw my mom and told her what was happening. She got the puffer, and took it to the pit. By this time I was well off the pace but getting things under control...the racking cough was going away but the hypoxic headache squeeze was starting. At the same time I was thinking about a letter I got from USADA last week saying my Temporary Use Exemption was up and I would be found positive if I was tested. I made the calculation that it was not worth my future career for one race that I had no chance of doing well in anyway, and so I wheezed my way around the course trying to keep my breath rate down and shallow.

I think it’s strange that my race was tainted with thoughts of doping. How can an asthmatic trying to catch his breath and someone shooting up EPO every week be comparable? How can they be lumped into the same category? Easy, it’s called lack of paperwork. I’ll make sure I have mine filed for next year so it won’t be an issue. I think fear of drugs and doping has become bigger to me this last year, as I’m finally doing well enough to get tested. I know that I’m a clean rider, and there is no way that I will compromise my integrity by even allowing a suggestion otherwise.

I’m happy I did what I did. I’m just sorry to let down the people who believed in me, the sponsors, my family and friends. I think the biggest disappointment is knowing you can do better and having something get in the way.

-Ben Jacques-Maynes