August 19, 2004 - 2nd in NRC Rankings

Fiordifrutta Holds 2nd Place Amateur Team Spot in NRC Rankings

The most recent National Racing Calendar standings (July 7th) show Fiordifrutta as the 2nd place amateur team in the nation. The rankings are calculated by the USCF from points earned in the most prestigious races held in the US. The squad holds 15th place behind 13 professional teams from the US and Europe. Fourteenth spot is held by Endeavour Cycling which is managed by the same organization that put together the Saturn Pro Cycling Team for many years. The Fiordifrutta boys hope to take over the number 1 spot by the end of the season.

Jonathan Page has been showcasing his great late season form, and writes the following reports from two big-money criteriums.

Page Sprints to 9th in NYC Amateur Cycling Championships, August 1

It was raining cats and dogs all night before the race in NYC and continued right on until an hour after our race was over. We had very little bike traffic on our 3 mile commute to the race but during the race, it was a different story. I tried to get away from the field early, not thinking yet of the finish, but only to get away from the pileups on the very slippery roads and cobbles. The field was strung out and broken up from lap one but no one was letting me or anyone else go away. At the halfway mark, the field had been cut down to less than 50 riders.

Due to some negative racing by one of the teams, there were a lot of crashes in the corners throughout the second half. I managed to avoid crashing until 3/4 of a lap to go. I had set myself up behind the only organized team and was on the wheel of Pineda, whom I know is a good sprinter. A crazy guy came flying up on my inside and stayed upright through the corner, accelerated on the cobble section and took Pineda on the inside through the next corner. The crazy guy slid out (duh!) taking Pineda down to the pavement. I slid with one foot out into the metal barrier and hit it so hard my other foot clipped out. I angrily untangled my bike from the barrier, re-mounted my bike cyclocross style and floored it. I managed to catch and go through the field but by the time I got there, there was a group of 8 just off the front so I sprinted in for 9th. I wasn't too hurt so I have to be happy with that.

Page Takes Top Amateur Spot at Bank of America Invitational Criterium, August 7th

The course was your standard dog bone shaped course. With $125,000 on the line, it was fast from the start. We had three guys in the race: Shawn Milne, Jon Hamblen, and me. Just before halfway through the race, we heard a bell for a $500 prime. Hamblen did a lovely job chasing and catching a guy off the front then leading me out for the prime! We had money in our pockets but were tired from the effort, and Hamblen and I found ourselves at the back of the race in danger of being dropped. We struggled to get ourselves back up toward the front. No one managed to breakaway from the field so the finish would be a massive field sprint. Milne and I were fighting for positions at the front of the field in the final laps. I eventually came through the last corner in OK position and sprinted safely in for 12th. Milne was 31st and Hamblen was 51st...one place out of the money! :-) None of us crashed so it was a good race overall.

Peck Finishes 3rd at Tour of the Hilltowns, August 7th

The 7th annual edition of the this hilly New England Classic saw Dan Cassidy, Rob Hult, Peter Hult, and Chris Peck take the start line for Fiordifrutta. An extra loop had been added to the course this year to make a total of 93 miles for the day. Aggressive racing from Fiordifrutta ruled the day, with Cassidy spending some time solo in the first 20 miles, and Peck covering a move from Amos Brumble for 10 miles or so. The move of day escaped at the 45 mile mark with 6 riders including Peck jumping up to a 3 minute gap. But after the 20 minute ascent of East Hawley Road, the gap plunged to 1:20 as a group containing Peter Hult and Cassidy got close to the escapees. Despite some attacks by Peck in the final few miles, the race came down to a group sprint with Peck taking 3rd. Cassidy put in a fine ride for 7th with Peter and Rob in 10th and 14th.