October 15, 2004 - UCI Cross Podiums

John Hamblen and Johs Huseby have been ripping up on the cyclocross scene and Johs writes the below race reports. There is nice podium shot from the UCI cross race in Ohio HERE, with Hamblen making a statement about doping in cycling.

Huseby 2nd at Canton MA Cyclocross, October 2

There was a pretty strong field that showed up for this race including fellow teammate Phil Wong on his spanky new Cannondale Cross Bike with disc brakes. He was raring to go. We started pretty fast – I got the hole shot and towed Mark McCormack and a few others with me. We quickly created a selection. About ¾ of the way through the first lap there was a very steep climb where Mark and I were the only ones who could ride it. This allowed us to create a good gap on those behind us. We separated and worked together for the next few laps until I made a mistake and slipped going up this climb and had to put a foot down. Mark took this opportunity to escape and put the pressure on. It was difficult for me to chase him down, but I was able to maintain a good gap over those chasing me behind and finished comfortably in second. Phil in his first cross race ever rode a fantastic race finishing in 11th having just learned how to mount and re-mount shortly before the start of our race.

Huseby 3rd at Whitmore’s Landscaping UCI Cat II Cyclocross – Southampton, NY – October 3rd

This was my first UCI race of the year and I was looking forward to it. I had been feeling like I might be coming down with a cold leading up to this, so I had been drinking lots of fluids and maintaining my health. The start was fast. I got the hole shot and won a first lap prime. I continued on my way and was immediately in a small group with sure enough Mark McCormack and Matt White from NCC. I made a quick mistake and Mark go away from us and then Matt took the lead. He shut my line down on this one difficult climb and made me put my foot down – similar feeling to the day before. I then was stuck behind once again fighting to catch him. He was going well and I was only able to get within 11 seconds of him at the finish leaving me with third on the day. Hamblen was not far behind finishing a strong 7th picking off a few guys in the last few laps. To get home, we jumped on the ferry in Orient Point, NY and arrived in New London for the drive home from there.

Huseby and Hamblen Take 2nd and 3rd at Bio Wheels - Ohio Valley UCI Cyclocross – Cincinnati, OH – October 10th

This was going to be difficult whichever way I sliced it. I got home last weekend from the race on Long Island at about 10:30 on Sunday night and then had to fly to Las Vegas at 7 AM the next morning for the yearly Interbike trade show. It is always a challenge as it is a lot of standing up and talking and one is beat at the end of every day. I got out there and had the time in my favor. I was able to train all week early in the morning. One morning I even got to ride with our fearless leader Chris Peck and Damiano Cunego decided to join us as well. I took the red-eye home on Friday night and then got home at 10:30 AM the next morning to Boston. I went home took a short nap and then went for a good ride to get the plane legs out and get ready for the race the next day in Cincy. I was then to get on a plane at 7 that same night and fly to Dayton to meet Alan Romick – the owner of Headsweats (one of our sponsors) and Hamblen. I got there about 11:30 PM and we then had a bit of a drive to Alan’s house. Phew, I slept well that night!

We woke up in the morning and had the pleasure of having breakfast all ready for us with plenty of bacon – if you don’t know already, Hamblen could live on it. We then headed to Alan’s warehouse to build my bike which I had had shipped earlier in the week. Unfortunately upon inspection after pulling the bike out of the box, one of my brakes was broken. Luckily, Alicia, Hamblen’s fiancé had the same kind of brakes, so I was able to borrow one of hers after her race. We got to the race with plenty of time to spare and rode the course. It was mostly grass and pretty fast. There were a few corners that were a little off camber and some good sand sections and a good deal of up and down. We started off and formed a group of 5 or 6. We then shed a couple of guys and had a solid group of 4. Hamblen and I would attack and then the other would, once one of the other guys chased us down.

Then, with three laps to go as I was in front, my chain broke….I was just in front of the pit, so this was good. Alicia was there with Hamblen’s second bike (I only had one with me) and off I went. It was quite a site as I think it is a 52 – much too small for me. Hamblen kept looking back and chuckling at the site of me on his bike as I slowly drifted back to about a 30 second deficit. I thought my race was over. After one lap, I came by the pits and my bike was repaired…phew. I jumped on and chased as hard as I could and it took some effort, but with half a lap to go, I caught the lead group once again. Hamblen had been up there making sure that the gap never got too large.

As we approached the finish, Tyler Johnson got in front of me before the last corner and was able to make a solid dash for the line. I was coming from behind and didn’t have much time and got second by no more than 1 cm. Ugh. Hamblen was right behind to take third. It was quite a race and a great trip, but I was ready to go home. Alan once again took us to his warehouse where we packed up my bike, then he took me to dinner after Hamblen and Alicia jumped in the car back to Charlotte. Then to the airport and back in my own bed by 1 AM Monday morning.