May 31, 2005 - Somerville NRC

Dietrich and Wong Make the Break in Somerville New Jersey – May 30th

This dead flat sprinter’s race has always been a challenge for the Fiordifrutta squad, since we always prefer the hillier races. But this year, Phil Wong and Mike Dietrich make it into the winning break at the end of this race. A strong team including Perera, Hamblen, Cody, Gewirtz, and Timmerman had covered many moves throughout the day, but Dietrich and Wong finally got away to finish 5th and 8th in this NRC event.

You can read articles mentioning Fiordifrutta on Velonews and cyclingnews.com

Huseby Wins Somerville Criterium – Category II race – May 30th

Whitey and I both signed up for the Category II race in Somerville, New Jersey at the nations oldest bicycle race. We also had a big team of boys ready to duke it out in the Pro/I field later in the day. Whitey and I had checked out the just over mile long course and found that a break would not stay away and a field sprint would surely be the way this race would end. There were not many teams in the race that had a big group of guys although there were over 100 starters on the line. We decided we might try for a prime or two, but that we would both try to save it for the end. Several moves tried to get away early. Whitey did a great job covering many of these moves and I remained patient for the finish. The course was choppy in some sections and we had to be very aware in the corners so as not to go down. Going into the last lap, we knew we had to be in the top 10 coming through the last couple of corners. Whitey was 3rd or 4th wheel and I was sitting right about 10th. The Green Goblins from Louis Garneau were trying to lead out one of their guys and I moved up using their train as a sling shot. I then made my move. I thought for sure someone was going to come around me, but I held on and managed to win by over a bike length.

Fiordifrutta 2nd, 3rd, 4th, at Hartford Criterium in New Britain, CT – May 29th

We had a strong showing here with a 5 man team – Huseby, White, Gewirtz, Cody, and Peck. There was a healthy field and a pretty sizeable prize purse, so we knew we had an opportunity for a good reward at the end of the day. Our plan was to try to keep the race from ending in a field sprint. Cody and Huseby both knew they could be there in the end, but we didn’t want to leave it to that if at all possible. We launched attacks one after another for the short 30 lap race. Whitey got in a move early on, and nabbed a prime. Shortly there after Huseby made one stick for two or three laps and then a couple of guys bridged up including teammate Gewirtz. They were able to keep it rolling for another prime and then were swallowed by the field.

At this point, Peck – with a full family watching and baby Anna’s first bicycle race experience - launched a sharp attack that dragged a few along with him. They remained off the front for a short period and the closing laps approached quickly with the field together. The race started swarming with the pack altogether as White and Peck kept the boys near the front. Coming into the last corner a big crash occurred, but Cody, Gewirtz, and Husebey were all up front and narrowly escaped the carnage. Field sprint specialist Adam Hodges Myerson, once again bested us, but we followed right behind, with Cody in 2nd, Huseby 3rd and Gewirtz 4th.