Draft animals: living the pro cycling dream (once in a while)

Like countless other kids, Phil Gaimon grew up dreaming of being a professional athlete.

But unlike countless other kids, he actually pulled it off.

After years of amateur races and hard training, he finally achieved his goal and signed a contract to race professionally on one of the best teams in the world.

Now, Gaimon pulls back the curtain on the WorldTour, cycling's highest level.

He takes readers along for his seasons in Europe, covering everything from water-bottle-stealing fans, to contract renewals, to riding in poisonous smog, to making friends in a sport plagued by doping.