Thrill of Olympics still rings

Sprinter Adam Duvendeck will make his Portland debut at Alpenrose Velodrome

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, Jul 14, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Adam Duvendeck made his Olympic debut in 2004 at Athens and hasn’t given up thoughts of seeking a third trip to the Games.

GREG WOOD / GETTY IMAGES

Nearly nine years later, the memories continue to raise an excited chill up Adam Duvendeck’s back –and past the tattoo of the Olympic rings he got just below his neck after competing for the United States in the 2004 Athens Games.

“For me, I don’t think anything will compare to that first time going to the Olympics,” says Duvendeck, a 27-year-old cyclist from Long Beach, Calif. “I was ecstatic about being there. I still get goose bumps thinking about walking in for the opening ceremonies.”

Duvendeck returned to the Olympics in 2008 –finishing eighth in the three-man sprint after placing 11th in Athens –and he might decide to make a run at the 2012 London Games.

“I’m taking it year by year,” he says. “It will depend on whether I feel like I have a shot at a medal, instead of merely going to go.”

For now, Duvendeck is in training mode, taking things relatively easy.

“The year after the Olympics is kind of a down year,” he says.

He’ll probably race only once this summer, and it will be at the 11th annual Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge July 17 to 19 in Southwest Portland.

The event, which has no admission charge, brings together more than 100 track racers and offers $12,000 in prize money. Duvendeck and teammate Travis Smith of Canada will be among the elite riders on hand.

“It’ll be my first time in Portland,” Duvendeck says. “Travis raced there last year and had a lot of great things to say about the event and the promoter. And it interests me to visit as many of the tracks in the U.S. as possible.”

Cooking at home

Duvendeck, who was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., overcame mysterious back pains last year to break the national record with his sprint team at the world championships in Manchester, England.

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