ADAM LOOMIS
  • Home
  • Blogs
  • My Story
  • Goals
  • Results
  • Support


 ​Adam Loomis

USA Nordic Combined

Wrapping up the Bike Trip

7/21/2013

0 Comments

 
That's it for the week in Courchevel, France and Summer Europe Camp number one.  Our coaches did an awesome job transitioning the jump camp into the biking to make a really productive trip.  The extra company from the donors this last week was especially great.  And, not to mention, the support from these five guys will make the rest of our season  financially possible.   

We rode everyday in France, Monday through Saturday.  I haven't really crunched the numbers, but I know I put in around 400 miles and 40,000 vertical feet of climbing in those six days.  The donors all put in some impressive days as well.  Sometimes I think they forget that we're training to be world-class athletes and we're still hurting on these rides. 

The highlight of the week was definitely riding to and watching the Tour riders on Alpe d'Huez.  Most of my team, two of the donors and I rode from our hotel over three passes to the stage, then spent four hours up on the mountain getting the Tour experience.  (Fortunately we had vans and didn't have to ride back).  
Picture
Dave Strong, suited up and ready for some Alpe d'Huez action.
Almost every cyclist will tell you that Alpe d'Huez is the most iconic of climbs in all of bike racing (for its 21 hairpin turns as much as anything). This year, they paved a connector road over the top, so the riders could ride up it, then down the backside and right back up for an unprecedented double ascent.  Even on this steep climb, the riders go by fast.  Getting to see them a second time made it all that much better.  And watching the pain on these sometimes super-human faces was also extremely satisfying.  Trust me, the sprinters were not having any fun.
Picture
I made it on international TV for a second year in a row. Brett's in front of me in the Flag. We gave TJ all the cheers we could, unfortunately he couldn't hang on for the stage win.
Picture
Fans lining the switchbacks of Alpe d'Huez. It's like this the whole 14 km of the climb. More photos at: http://www.steephill.tv/2013/tour-de-france/photos/stage-18/
Picture
Cruising up the Madeleine on the way to l'Alpe.
Picture
The top of Col de Madeleine.
Picture
Taylor, crushing the local competition.
Another highlight was hopping in the local time trial up Montee Courchevel with Brett, Michael, Taylor and "Tenacious D" (Dave Strong).  They run this race weekly throughout the summer, six Euros and you get to race up the windy road, 17.5km and 1200 meters of vertical climb.  The French can't resist cheering on a cyclist, so we actually had some crowds pushing us on along the way.  Taylor and I suprised the Frenchies a bit by finishing 1, 2.  Taylor especially dominated, beating me by 2 minutes, whereas I only got the next guy by a few seconds.  This guy, we learned driving down, has dual citizenship and is the national road race champion of Mauritius, a tiny island off of Madagascar.   I can now say I beat a world champion on a bike, but I'm not sure that tiny African island nations have too much competition when it comes to cycling.

 We finished in the pouring rain and were happy to have our coaches at the top with a van.  Sometimes cool-downs can be done without.  
Picture
Bill, Walter and I, at the top of Cormet Roseland, above the lake, pictured below.
Picture
Tomorrow it's back to home.  Springer Tournee's next week, time for some quick recovery... and maybe a little rollerskiing.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Where am I?
    ​
    Park City, UT


    Tweets by @skiloomis

    MAKE A DIFFERENCE!


    If you want to help support my dreams, you can contribute directly to offset my expenses for this upcoming season.​
    Donate directly or visit my Rally Me page.

    Picture
    To support the team - Click below to help out and spread the word!
    ​USANS DONATIONS

    Picture

    RELATED:

    USA Nordic on Facebook

    USANordic.org

    ​​

    Teammates
    ​
    Ben Berend
    Bryan Fletcher
    Taylor Fletcher
    ​Jasper Good

    Sponsors

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blogs
  • My Story
  • Goals
  • Results
  • Support