The Fiordifrutta boys had a couple of near wins last week, but still managed to get some pics on Velonews and cyclingnews.

Gaimon 2nd at Connecticut Coast Criterium, June 1

I attacked early and got a break of 5 established. A couple groups came across, and soon we were 11, with 4 Target Training and 5 guys sitting on. I snagged 2 of the 4 primes, and it made Target want to get rid of me before the finish, so they started attacking. I would let them go, and then bridge across since no one wanted to help me work. Inevitably the whole group would claw back on.

With 1 to go, Zawacki attacked. Everyone looked at each other, and it looked like he had it won, so his team let me go when I jumped with half a lap to go. 1 rider sat on my wheel. I got halfway across to Ben and flicked my elbow. The guy said he couldn’t work, and he couldn’t sprint, so I put my head down and made the bridge myself, catching a cracked Zawacki at the bottom of the hill. Of course the guy sprinted me (I don’t know who he was). I almost held him off, but couldn’t do it at the end. Two second places in two weeks…

Schildge 2nd at Millport Road Race, May 31

I arrived home on Friday for a week’s vacation before heading out to Minnesota for the Nature Valley Grand Prix. As part of my training for the upcoming Tour of Pennsylvania, I headed out to Lancaster County Pennsylvania to do a local road race on Saturday. The course was mostly flat with beautiful, smooth roads. It rained on and off during our race, but considering the forecast called for severe thunderstorms and hail, it could have been worse.

I was feeling two hard weeks of training in my legs, and it took me some time to warm up. Once I was feeling a little better, I started attacking and following moves. I eventually bridged to a move containing 3 riders from Pennsylvania Lightning. The break grew to eight guys, and we rolled around at a modest tempo. With 5 laps to go, I attacked the group and pulled away with one other rider. I watched to see whether the three teammates would take control to pull me back. After about a lap, I was reeled back in. With three laps to go, I attacked again, and was countered by Michael Chauner (PA Lightning). I followed him and the two of us quickly established a sizeable advantage over the rest of the break.

As we rolled into the final kilometer, my race brain must have turned off. Chauner was sitting on my wheel, and for some bizarre reason, I decided I didn’t really care. I’m not sure if I planned to beat him in the sprint after towing him around for over a kilometer, but that would have required me to attack at some point. As it were, he jumped me coming into the chicane 200 meters before the finish, and I never had a chance. I guess my hard weeks of training had left me depleted mentally as well as physically!

Schildge Races NRC’s Bikejam/Kelly Cup, May 24 and Tour of Somerville, May 26

Toby Marzot and I raced in our first NRC events of the season at Bikejam and Somerville. We were excited to finally be racing with the big boys, and we were eager to see how we stacked up. Both Toby and I were pleased to see that we were fit enough to ride near the front for most of the race, and even throw in a few attacks. There were a few small moves that developed, but eventually a 4 man group established itself off the front. They would stay away to the finish, and I was able to sprint for 21st. Not bad for our first big race of the season.

Next up was the Tour of Somerville; one of my personal favorites. This was my first time in the Pro/1 field, and I was hoping to improve on Saturday’s performance. The race was marred by crashes, one of which involved Toby. He got a neutral bike from the Mavic support crew and continued; even following a couple moves in the final half of the race.

Meanwhile, I decided that I wanted to get a little exposure for the team, so I started going for the primes. I was able to grab two, and got narrowly beaten for a third. Coming into the final few laps, the pace was picking up, and the effort of going for the primes, and being pushed into the wind while trying to hold my position near the front had taken its toll. I came into the final straightaway in a decent position, but had to settle for 19th. Still, a modest improvement on Saturday’s performance and a few NRC points to boot!