Former rider Adrien Costa has described how he has rebuilt his life after losing his leg in a freak climbing accident in California last July. In a wide-ranging interview with L`Equipe, covering happiness, spirituality and psychology, the 21-year-old American - who rode for Continental team Axeon Hagens Berman during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, described how he has been able to retain his love of life outdoors. When it comes to his future, he said, `I just know that I`d like to do something that could help others.` Costa had already decided to stop cycling competitively the year before his accident, with his last races having been at a series of under-23 events in Italy in April 2017. In a Axeon Hagens Berman team statement released ahead of the 2018 season, Costa said: `I`m just not ready to come back yet. The more I thought about it, the more I realised I didnīt want to hold a spot on the team when that meant denying someone else of the opportunity.ADVERTISEMENT `Since I stopped racing in April 2017, I`ve learned a lot about myself and realised how big, and unbalanced, of a part of me was cycling. I knew that if I was going to race again, it`d be in a much different, more relaxed way. I wasn`t able anymore to have the single-minded, razor-sharp focus for training and racing that I once woke up with daily. I knew I had to lean on other things in life to provide me more balance and more happiness overall.` Costa`s other interests included climbing, and it was while on Mount Conness, California, in July 2018, that he fell, trapping his right leg under a rock. After calling out for help, Costa was found by another group of climbers, although it was another six hours until a rescue team could get to him. `I have a big responsibility to make the most of this second chance` `I`d like to do something that could help others`
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