Larry Warbasse's Life in the Modern World Tour
American world tour professional Larry Warbasse grew up in northern Michigan, an area more renown for its brutal winters than its road cycling. Warbasse however developed such a passion for his sport than nothing was going to stand in his way of enjoying his sport of cycling not even inclement weather.
Coming from an academic family and with an opportunity awaiting at the University of Michigan Larry had to make a decision on where to put his grit and determination. Cycling won that choice as Larry attributes the power of the smile that cycling gave him.
After 10years as a top tier professional, a US national road title and 8 grand tours Larry still gets that smile from his sport. On a mid ride coffee park up with Justin Morris, hear his journey from an enthusiastic Northern Michigan junior to the roller coaster ride that is the modern world tour.
Driving the bunch at the 2022 Volta Catalunya. Pic: Getty Images
“If you really commit to something, you see a lot of progress. I progressed pretty quickly, for me that kind of made cycling addictive.”
Larry racing for the USA national U23 team as a junior.
“I was having such good time, I really enjoyed what I was doing so much that every day I could not wait to wake up in the morning, you know, because I was just so excited for the day ahead!”
Racing in Australia 2018. Pic: Getty Images
“Being a nice guy on and off the bike, I think it can only help you.”
Larry has kept with all the evolutions in training and racing at the top level over the past 15 years.
“It is making sure you don’t cook overcook yourself and taking plenty of rest is really important as well, especially these days.”
Larry with his mate and former pro Conor Dunne of GCN on their ‘SlowPro Tour’ bike packing trip through the Canary islands.
“I really was really drawn to sort of the social aspect of the sport. There is a time to be switched on, fully focused and going hard, but there’s also a time just to like chill on the bike. Although that time is becoming less and less these days!”
The roads of Larry’s home town Traverse City, Michigan, USA (In Summer).
“Winter in Traverse City it is like minus 20 and we used to do like four hours on the bike- it was horrible. We’d ride like cyclocross tires and just get the miles done. I mean, I would never do that now, but yeah, that’s what we used to do back in the day.”
Winning the 2017 USA national road race title.
“We’ve just improved so much in terms of training, in terms of recovery, in terms of nutrition, and that I think is what has raised the level so much lately.”