This past weekend Team Targetraining (U25 and elite riders) held its first training camp of the 2008 road season in Westport, Connecticut. With the goal of the camp to be a "get to know the team and each other" approach, it was attended by returning riders Eneas Freyre, Justin Lindine, Adam St. Germain and Lee Rosenthal. New riders brought on board for next season were there too, including Nathanial Ward, David Hoyle, Will Nowak, Craig Leukens and Ben Zawacki. Only Matt Baldwin was not able to make it since he was enjoying his honeymoon in Mexico.
As riders converged in Westport, Connecticut, where they started the day off with coffee and food during meetings on team policies and sponsor education. The meetings included a very detailed explanation of the team's anti-doping policy, and of the possible random testing throughout the season. The team coaches reviewed training plans and racing programmes with the riders.
After lunch, Team Manager Kyle Wolfe brought the squad to their first task of the weekend with a survival course of hiking, a 150-foot (45.72m) rope rappel and four river crossings at a local park. Many fears were overcome and feet got wet as the team learned to work together and communicate.
After a team dinner, the boys enjoyed a USA football game – the Patriots and the Giants.
On Sunday, the squad took part in a paintball match in Pawling, New York, for what was touted as "extreme stressed based team bonding exercises." Over five hours of paintball combat followed.
The camp ended with encouraging words from Wolfe and plans for another camp, which will including riding bikes, next month.
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