Praino, an Arlington resident, is among five finalists to win a dream trip to the Tour de France and to play a role to U.S.-Italian bicycling team Team Liquigas-Cannondale. Like the other contestants, Praino, 27, entered by submitting a two-minute video that described how biking has affected his life and his most memorable moment from the Tour de France. The deadline for voting in the contest is Friday. To cast your vote and see Praino’s video, visit http://www.facebook.com/RideCannondale. So, are you really into biking, then?
I race locally and ride with teams in the Arlington area. It was something I got into as a kid. I got my first road bike when I was 12 and started riding competitively in college.
Why did you decide to enter the contest?
I thought it would be a perfect fit for me. The team is based in the U.S. and Italy, and I’m an Italian American. I know what it takes to prepare for races and I tried to show that in the video. Some of it’s comical, and I put together a video that encapsulates what you do to prepare and put humor in it.
What would be the most exciting for you if you win?
The most exciting thing would be to be behind the scenes of this amazing event. It’ll be like being behind the scenes with your favorite team in the Super Bowl for an entire week. I’ll spend a week with the team and ride in the team car. It’s an opportunity to be with my favorite cyclists and help them try to succeed.
What will you actually do for them if you win?
That’s still unforeseen. There’s a lot that goes into the race. There’s people who work on the strategy, then there’s chefs, doctors, massage therapists who all play roles. I assume I’ll be helping in smaller areas, like getting them food and water.
Freeman Klopott
