Domestique

The latest version of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is history. Riders, teams and terrain dominated the stories that splashed across the sports pages in the Denver Post. Newcomers to the sport were tutored by a well-designed website that not only posted results, but also defined terms.

The vernacular is important in understanding both strategy and outcomes.

Peloton…

Breakaway…

Chase…

Gap…

Echelon…

… all found a clear and informative categorization and definition.

Buried in the catalog of terms was this…

Domestique
A rider whose job it is to support and work for other riders in their team (literally “servant” in French).

Teams boast and boost key individual riders in an effort to position them on the podium. This simply isn’t possible without a team. It simply isn’t possible without domestiques. On rides that last hours and hours, these riders fight the wind and fatigue that would derail the ultimate objective of protecting and propelling the team’s key rider.

These riders push, and press, and sacrifice so that at the end of the ride, the star is the star. They expend every ounce of energy and physical capacity only to fade to oblivion in total exhaustion. They chase down sprinting riders from other teams and keep them within the reach.

They train for obscurity. They contribute by being invisible at the end of the day.

There are no endorsement deals, no bold headlines, no colored jerseys for these servants… only the satisfaction of faithfulness.

John the Baptist was a biblical domestique. At a point at which it appeared that he was leading the pack, he made it absolutely and painfully clear to his fans and followers.

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

Is there a more clear definition of a domestique? When Jesus was tucked in the middle of the pack, John described his role with precision, humility and vision.

It was Jesus who would ultimately stand on the podium. No yellow jersey, but the robes of a King. It was Jesus that would bring light to the darkness. It was Jesus who would bring hope to the hopeless. It was Jesus who would rescue the lost. It was Jesus who would die for the sins of mankind. It was Jesus who would pay the price that no prophet or priest could pay. It was Jesus who would ultimately stand in victory. It was Jesus.

And John the Baptist… Domestique. Servant.

In service to the King. In service to each other.

It was Jesus… and it still is Jesus.

Domestiques on behalf of our champion. Domestiques because He is unmatched. Domestiques because He alone is worthy.