June 9, 2005 - NE Crit Champ

Wong and Dietrich 2nd and 3rd in USCF Road Race Rankings

The most recent standings show Phil Wong and Mike Dietrich at the top of the USCF Road Race Rankings for category 1 men. They hold the number 2 and 3 spots out of the 341 category 1 riders in the US.

The team is currently racing at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota against the nation’s top pros. Cody and Wong both made it into the top 25 in the day one time trial, and there is a great picture of Gewirtz on cyclingnews.com

Dietrich Wins New England Criterium Championships, Ninigret, RI – June 5th

Johs Huseby wrote the following race report:
After the first dreadfully hot and humid day of the year and a disappointing showing in Maine, Dietrich and I headed down to Ninigret, Rhode Island for the New England Crit Champs on the world famous loop at Ninigret Park. We both had been hydrating like banshees and wanted to make sure there was no issue today, on once again another steamer. We both agreed that we didn’t want to go away on the first lap, however that promise didn’t last long. As soon as the whistle blew a small move went away and I immediately jumped on it. It consisted of four of us and not too long after several others bridged across.

At this point Deez was still in the main field, but before I knew it I looked behind me and he had rolled across. We now had 8 in the group and we steadily gained time on the field. Coming into the half way prime, Dietrich gave me a tremendous lead-out and I easily took the sprint. One other rider was behind me and we had a 50 foot gap on the group. We continued to work together for the next 2 or 3 laps but unfortunately he wasn’t making strong enough pulls to keep us away and I was not about to tow him around for the next 14 laps.

As soon as the group caught us, Dietrich launched. It could not have been more perfect timing. Everyone was tired from chasing and he established a big gap right away and no one attempted to chase him down. Within not too long a time, he made it up to the field – which he had now lapped. He stayed in the field and dragged them around. Once he got to the field, we started working together again and then another guy launched and no one chased him down. I certainly was not about to as I didn’t want to get near Dietrich, so we sat there and with about three laps remaining, the cat and mouse began. A few people tried some attacks, but I marked everyone and made sure nothing got away.

Dietrich took the win as we had half a lap left and we were in no way going to catch the guy by himself in second, so our pace slowed to a crawl. Everyone was waiting for the other to make a move. I let a huge gap open up as one guy sat on my wheel which forced him to close the gap and allowed me to come from behind. Another guy charged hard up the right side and I followed him and when it was time, made my move and took third. So in the end it worked out well for Dietrich and me, first and third and he was now the New England Criterium Champion! Funny…for a guy that prides himself on being a road racer.