Paul Romero, co-captain of team SOLE, hit a cat during the bike portion of the first day of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge. From my notes:

"We're at about kilometer seven or eight, in a big old pace line, cruising along at 40 K per hour, and I'm in the front of the line. My hands are on my stem, I'm in race mode. A huge white house cat jumps out of nowhere, and I hit it! I run right over its stomach! It would have been so easy to crash, but by some miracle, I stayed upright."

Aside from that drama, of which Paul has no photographic proof, but plenty of witnesses, the day was a breeze for SOLE, Paul said. "We are so happy with Andre and Chad."

Andre is Andre Gie, and Chad is Chad Ulansky, two South African athletes who've joined SOLE for the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge.