April 08, 2003

Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks posted another win in one of the classic New England season openers, and Johs Huseby writes the race report below. Oliver Stiler-Cote also checks in from his National team experiences at a stage race in Belgium.

Dietrich Wins Marblehead Circuit Race, April 6

Mike D is on fire. There were four of us that made it to the annual New England opener Marblehead Circuit Race. It was Mike D, Donny Mills, Josh Anthony, and I. It was a cold and windy day, but sunny, a nice break from the unseasonably cold and snowy spring we have been experiencing of late. It was a full field of 90 riders and everyone itching to prove that their hours of time spent indoors this winter had paid off. The race started pretty slow and there were a few attempts that were trying to move off the front, but to no success. We all took our turns in brief forays at the front, but there was no action. Finally as the race started coming to a close, maybe with 8 laps to go, I spoke with Donny and the seasoned veteran predicted the move - a break would go in the next two laps. He was right on, and it was a good-sized group of at least 20 riders. Mike D had made the selection and that was it for the boys in Red. I thought quickly, and then stifled the thought and just went for it. I closed the gap to the group by myself and was thrilled once I got there. It was very disorganized immediately. Frustrating to say the least, although we must have been moving along fast enough to stay away, because no pursuers approached. We finally started to get organized and then once again people started looking around for others to take their turn. One person jumped and Mike D went with. Perfect! I sat a couple riders back and watched as one more person closed the gap and we were poised. They sat at about 10 seconds off the front and no one wanted to make the move to close to them. This was fine with me. We rounded the course one last time and I realized we were in the clear. It was great. We came over the top of the hill and Mike D had taken it! Yes! I was edged out in the sprint for our group and ended up fifth and Donny and Josh were in the field not so far behind. It was another great day for Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks!

Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux, Stage 3, April 6

14 steep climbs and I was a hurtin’ puppy today. We started in a castle and went out to meet the bitter cold, arm warmers and long finger gloves were a must today. It had been a process of elimination ever since we hit the first hill of the day at 25k in. We did 3 laps of a 30k crooked loop in the finale. Each lap contained 4 climbs- 1 tarmac ripper too steep to drive a car up (not to mention on top you had to zig-zag in the cross wind on a false flat for a few more kms) there was this cobbled climb, I think its called the "san sever" or something, 20 percent, no shoulder or gutter to crawl to, just 100 meters of all out humpin'. At 3 hrs into this torture chamber I looked back to see that the group still had not really split up- like 60 or 70 guys left. How was this possible! I looked at my teammate Pat and just shook my head, it was unbelievable how strong this peleton was. With the cross wind we'd get put in the gutter for like 10k just hauling ass, only focusing on the wheel in front, clawing it back- and I’d look after a turn and see a line about 2 km long single file and not a single guy was dropped- unreal. I managed to suffer my way into the first group up until the climbs on the last lap- but then with just 25k to go I got popped by the leaders (7 of 14 were quicksteps/davitamon, and how many riders was each team allowed? 7). I was with a group of about 15 others, the front group was down to only 14 as well. I think I finished 25th on the stage.

It was a brutal day, by far the hardest course we have seen so far this year. Man, it was epic, I wish we had races like this in the US. We have 2 days of rest and then we head to France for a 4-day stage race.

Later,
Ollie