May 2, 2004 - Bisbee and Monson Races

Dietrich 3rd at Bisbee Time Trial, 6th Overall

You can check out a photo from cyclingnews.com here

La Vuelta de Bisbee, April 23-25, by Mike Dietrich

Phil Wong and I headed out to Bisbee for a 4 stage three day event. We both knew it was going to be tough with 2 time trials, and two difficult road races.

Prologue- What a great course! 3 miles all uphill that started in the center of the town and wound through town before you climbed out of the town to the finish line. It felt very Euro. I managed a 7th place while Phil put in a good 14th place only about 6 seconds back.

Stage 1 - Phil and I decided it would be best to sit in and let the teams do the work and I would try to sprint at the end. All worked out well as Monex chased down the breaks at the end. I was in good position coming up the final climb waiting to sprint. As we took the final corner I got boxed in and a Navigators rider sat up right in front of me. I only managed to get 6th, while Phil finished in the field as well.

Stage 2 - This was an 8 mile TT and I knew it was going to be tough. Phil and I did not have TT bikes out here, and Phil did not even have aero bars. We were not able to check out the course before hand so we were riding it blindly on only what people had told us. I started out very hard and began to realize the course went down for 4 miles and came back up so I settled in, and after the turn around, started to really push. I managed a 3rd place which was a nice surprise and moved me into 6th overall. Phil who had no aero equipment still managed 41st.

Stage 3 - This was the big one, 90 miles with a lot of climbing at the end of the race. Once the main break got away the field slowed. The gap got up close to 4 minutes, then Monex began their chase. They caught the last rider with about 10 miles to go. Both Phil and I were there in a group of about 13 as the field split on a climb. We descended and then started the final climb. The group came down to 8 riders and attacks were going on the climb left and right. A Navigators rider made a big attack and no one responded. Six of us were left and started the steep part of the climb with the lead rider not far ahead. I ended up getting 7th, the last in our group, while Phil came in 9th and moved into 12th place!! I managed to hold on to 6th place overall and we were both pleased with the weekend.

Peter Hult Sprints to 2nd at Monson Road Race, April 24

The Monson Road Race in Massachusetts was held on a beautiful sunny spring Saturday. With a plenty of Canadians looking to make good on a favorable exchange rate, the race was filled with attacks on all 7 of the 8 mile laps. Johannes, Rob Hult and Curt Davis kept an eye on the front while the budding star of spring Peter Hult (last year’s winner) patiently waited. After a fast lap 4 the stage was set for a well timed attack by Peter who formed the final break with nine other riders. Fiordifrutta workhorses Rob and Johs covered every attack in the last 10 miles to ensure the break’s success. In the finale Peter Hult set himself up perfectly for a repeat performance for the uphill sprint but was nosed out by a Canadian in the final meters to take home second place.

Palmer Library Road Race, April 25

Another sunny day for New England racers proved that history repeats itself. With the team strategy to “watch the early break,” Don Mills did just that. From mile 1 of the 80 mile event, Cat 1 racer Don Mills pulled through tirelessly in a break of 12 riders. This left the rest of the team to cover attacks from the field in hopes of getting a free ride to the break ahead or deterring other team from strengthening the move. Again Johs covered countless moves while Peter waited to see the fate of the breakaway. But…with 20 miles to go and a gap of only 1 min the break seemed doomed, with an increased sense of urgency the Fiordifrutta boys stayed attentive during the final uphill kilometers only to see the break split in the last kilometer and 6 of the attendees stay away. With the help of Johs and Curt, Peter was well placed and led himself out for a powerful sprint that put him just outside the top ten in 11th. Don Mills’ attentiveness and strong riding put the team in position of strength today, therefore he receives the Fiordifrutta Strawberry Jam rider of the day award- congrats Donny!