November 8, 2004 - Hamblen Wins 2

Jon Hamblen wrote the following race reports and was clearly influenced by some his NASCAR heroes in North Carolina.

Hamblen Wins Salisbury Cyclocross, North Carolina Series, October 30th

Fiordifrutta's Jon Hamblen decided to stay in NC for the weekend and relax his driving muscles rather than complete the fourteen hour training drive to Gloucester, Mass. This was race number two in the North Carolina Cyclocross Series and was held in summer-like conditions, sunny and 81 degrees with a stiff breeze. The course was a long loop with plenty of open power sections, a steep ride up, and a mud section. The race started fast with Charlie Storm (Fuji) and John Deagle (Cycling Spoken Here) leading the first half lap. Hamblen sat on them, quoting after the race, "I was confident that the lightweight strength of my Cannondale cross frame and Time Atac Titan Carbon pedals would save me energy over the length of the race and let me put more power down through my stiff Spinergy wheels and grippy Michelin tires."

Two laps into the race Charlie and Jon separated themselves from Deagle by accelerating in and out of the turns. According to Hamblen, "me an' Charlie were going into turns four and five pretty hot and three wide, until we popped John D, then we settled down a bit." The two worked together for the next few laps increasing their lead over Deagle and the remainder of the field. With four laps to go Hamblen attacked Charlie in the long headwind stretch before the start/finish line.

Jon rode hard for the reaming laps to establish a good lead and take the win. At the finish Hamblen was ecstatic about his first cross win of the 04/05 season, "It's been a while since I won a cross race, about eight months, and that was a long dry spell there. I'm happy to be bringing my Fiordifrutta Cannondale back into victory lane and getting my team a win here was top priority, we were on orders from management to really be a force out here today. I really owe it to my team, the Fiordi frutta Cannondale was dialed in, Time pedals were working flawlessly, Spinergy wheels were holding my line, and the Michelins were awesome in the mud yet again, my Headsweats headband kept the sweat outta my eyes today, which was real nice in the heat."

Hamblen Takes Win #2 at Cary Cyclocross, North Carolina Series, October 31st

Round three of the NC Cyclocross Series was held in Cary under sunny skies and 80 degree temp's. Fiordifrutta's Jon Hamblen showed up with a plan to attack from the start Johs Huesby style, try to establish an early lead, and hold it to the finish.

The race was held in Bond Park on a fun twisty course that included some smooth single track trails and a huge run-up. Jon took off from the line but was beat to the first turn by John Deagle (Cycling Spoken Here) and he had to go through the tight turn two-wide with Charlie Storm (Fuji), "I was a lil' bit worried there in turn one, never seen anyone go into it two-wide before but we hung on and made it through all right," said Hamblen after the race.

Halfway into the lap Hamblen dove around Deagle in the woods and accelerated away, "Yeah, I was surprised that no one hung on me there comin' out of the woods, I knew I was in the clear if I could hit the run-up first and open her up full throttle when I got back on the Cannondale." Hamblen put the pressure on for the rest of the race and won his second of the weekend ahead of Charlie Storm and John Deagle.