In the weeks around Nationals, Fiordifrutta riders have been busy climbing onto the podium at events across the east coast.

White Wins Points Jersey and Best Young Rider at Mt Holly Grand Prix, July 22

As a warm-up to the Tour de Toona stage race that started 2 days later, Fiordifrutta lined up a full squad for this invitational race in New Jersey. With a strong group of professional riders taking the line, Matt White was excited to make the breakaway group of 11 riders, and then make the front group again when it split under pressure from Davide Frattini (Colavita). White took enough points every lap to win the points competition and he hung on for 5th place which made him the best young rider. You can see a full write-up on cyclingnews.com with a couple of great photos.

Rifflemacher Wins Owasco Stage Race, NY, July 14-15

I hit the road for a good weekend of racing- time trial Nationals on Friday night and then the Owasco stage race Saturday and Sunday. After packing up as quickly as I could from Nationals, I started the long drive up to Auburn, NY and looked forward to my second time trial in less than 24 hours. After a little sleep and lots of coffee, I managed to win the opening time trial and take the leader's jersey.

The criterium Saturday night was a little frustrating, as I tried to cover every intermediate sprint for bonus seconds. I ended up losing the jersey by three seconds based on the bonuses and was motivated to re-take the lead in the final road race on Sunday.

The race on Sunday began in amazingly heavy rain. At times the rain was so heavy that all I could see was the rear wheel of the rider in front of me. After about an hour and a half of racing, the weather cleared, the sun came out and the wind kicked up. I tried to force the pace on the hills to force a selection, but nothing would stick.

Finally I managed to get away after the second feed zone with two other riders and we worked well together to establish the break. In the end, we opened up a good enough gap for me to re-claim the overall lead and I finished third on the stage. All in all, it was a great, if exhausting, long weekend of racing.

Huseby Wins Faulkner Honda Criterium, PA, July 8th

Johs Huseby and Chris Peck hit this local Pennsylvania criterium on their way to West Virginia for the Cannondale sales meeting. With a 5 am departure from CT to make the 10 am start, they were a little sleepy on the line. But the tight course with 8 turns in less than a mile, quickly woke them up and the pair alternated attacks.

But the single file line of riders was rarely split up, and the race came down to a field sprint, as a solo rider was brought back with 1 lap to go. Peck led the entire last lap, with quick sprints on each straightaway section so that he could lead into the corners. Huseby came around him at 200 meters to go, to take the victory!