Adam LaRochelle took a year off from school after graduating from Maranacook in 2008 to both continue his mountain biking career and search for the right college.

"It ended up being a great idea," said LaRochelle, who found a perfect fit at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky. "They were able to offer me a large scholarship."

The money the Blue Raiders invested in LaRochelle has paid off so far. In four races this fall, LaRochelle has posted two firsts and two seconds competing in two of the four mountain biking disciplines -- short track and cross country -- and is the current Men's A collegiate points leader in those categories.

Lindsey Wilson was scarcely on LaRochelle's radar screen when a fellow mountain biker from Maine, Jake Brackett of Brownsville, invited LaRochelle to accompany him on a campus visit. He met coach David Grigsby, saw the campus, learned about the program and was sold.

Based on LaRochelle's junior mountain biking career -- he qualified for the World Cup team and won three titles in Maine -- Grigsby knew he was getting a good recruit.

"On paper I knew Adam was very good," Grigsby said. "He was definitely a step above what I estimated. It's really unusual for athletes to come in as freshmen and win at this level."

The Blue Raiders compete in Division I and have knocked off big schools, including Purdue, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin, this season. They finished fourth at the nationals last year and will be among the favorites in mid-October at the national championships in Truckee, Calif.

In addition to team titles, individual championships are also awarded and LaRochelle is a contender.

"Adam will have a shot at it," Grigsby said. "I wouldn't say he's one of the favorites."

One of the reasons LaRochelle chose Lindsey Wilson was the fact Grigsby is a professional cycling coach.

"Not many teams have a certified professional coach," he said.

In the world of mountain biking, there are pros competing at the college level. There are several on LaRochelle's team, although most of the money they receive comes in the form of sponsorships and equipment. LaRochelle is also working on his pro upgrade, which is accomplished on the USA cycling circuit, and is currently sponsored by Tom's Bike Boutique of Winthrop.

He arrived at school in mid-August in peak condition after a summer of workouts and competition and has since improved on that under Grigsby.

"He mixed endurance with explosive training," LaRochelle said. "I've noticed a lot of improvement in my riding."

Both are needed for the races he competes in. In short track, cyclists ride a half-mile loop for 20 minutes on the clock before racing the final two laps. Cross country loops are typically seven or eight miles and demand more endurance. LaRochelle said the fact he's 5 feet, 6 inches and a relatively light-for-the-sport 135 pounds helps his performance.

"He has a really good power to weight ratio," Grigsby said.

LaRochelle brought three bikes with him to Kentucky, one of those for a new endeavor, road racing, next spring.

"The strategy's completely different from mountain biking," he said.

A criminal justice major, LaRochelle is considering joining the Coast Guard or becoming a federal agent after graduation. Mountain biking, though, remains foremost in his plans. Grigsby said LaRochelle's success stems from a combination of hard work and natural ability and he's just tapping into it since most pro bikers hit their peak in their late 20s or early 30s.

"I don't think that he's even begun to peak yet," his coach said. "He can definitely be a top level pro mountain biker."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com