“If He Could Win His Battle, I Can Find a Way to Win Mine”: Lucas’s Journey to GFNY New York

When Lucas signed up for GFNY New York 2027, he knew the race would be a challenge. It will be his first race, he considers himself an amateur cyclist, and when he registered, he didn’t even own a road bike.

But for Lucas, GFNY New York is about much more than cycling.

When his son Rafael was just one year old, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. For Lucas and his family, those were some of the hardest days of their lives.

“I dropped everything, and the only thing that mattered was taking care of him,” Lucas says. “And through all of it, he was the brave one.”

Watching his one-year-old son face a condition that would require care every single day changed Lucas’s perspective on life. Rafael taught him about love, strength and courage in a way that nothing else had before.

And eventually, that courage became Lucas’s motivation to take on a challenge of his own.

“I kept thinking: if he could win his battle, I can find a way to win mine. So I signed up.”

Since then, Lucas has been training at least six hours a week. He is preparing for his first race while balancing training with life at home, including caring for his six-month-old baby.

There are early mornings, sleepless nights and plenty of challenges. But Lucas says that compared with what Rafael faces every day, a sleepless night is nothing.

For him, GFNY New York is not about proving that he can be the fastest cyclist or even about chasing a particular result.

“I’m an amateur, and crossing the finish line isn’t really why I’m doing this. For me, GFNY is about the process, and about respect.”

Respect for everyone living with diabetes. Respect for the parents who do everything they can for their children. And respect for everyone who takes care of their family with love and courage.

Lucas hopes that sharing their story can also help raise awareness about type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires constant care but whose daily challenges are often invisible to others.

He won’t be riding alone. His friends Thiago and Leonardo, from Bora Tchê, will be alongside him, and the three of them plan to ride GFNY New York together all the way to the finish.

But one photo in particular captures the heart of Lucas’s story.

In October 2023, just days after leaving the hospital, Rafael crawled outside into the rain. His parents watched as he went out on his own, clothes and all, and decided to let him enjoy the moment.

“He had the time of his life,” Lucas remembers. “After everything he had just been through, there he was, soaking wet and breathing life again.”

For Lucas, that image remains a reminder of his son’s strength—and of why he keeps moving forward:

When he lines up at the start of GFNY New York in 2027, he won’t just be riding for himself.

He’ll be riding for Rafael, for his family, and for everyone who finds the courage to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be.

“This is my statement of courage.”