Fiordifrutta Team Announcement – 2004

Fiordifrutta, an Italian producer of organic jams and honeys, is proud to announce the roster of one of the highest ranked US amateur cycling teams. The team has spent the last four years near the top of the National Racing Calendar points classification, and is excited to regain the number one spot that it held for much of 2002. The team consists entirely of riders from New England and it racked up twenty-three wins in 2003.

The sole title sponsor for 2004 will be Fiordifrutta, and the US importer of their products, Claudio Mucci stated, “We were extremely pleased with the team’s publicity and results in 2003, which was our first year of sponsorship, and we look forward to a long future of being involved with the team.” The team wishes to thank Wheelworks, one the nation’s top bicycle retailers with stores in the Boston area, which has supported the team over the last six seasons but will not be involved in 2004.

History:

The team has always focused on the development of younger riders, and continues as the nation’s premier program to help riders step up to the next level of cycling. Team riders who have moved onto careers in professional cycling include: Justin Spinelli (Saeco, Navigators), Jonathan Page (Prime Alliance, Guerciotti), Mike Jones (West Virginia, Healthnet), and Matt Svatek (Sportsbook.com). Team riders who have ridden for the US National Team in Europe include: Oliver Stiler-Cote, Shawn Milne, Darby Thomas, Robbie Dapice, and Donny Lopez. Team members have held more than twelve National Championship titles.

Riders:

The team in 2004 is the largest to date at thirteen riders, consisting of eight returning veterans and five new additions. The veterans are highlighted by team leaders Jon Hamblen and Mike Dietrich. Hamblen was the rider of the 2003 squad with the most victories, and looks to improve on his second place finish from the 2002 Elite National Road Race Championships. Dietrich finished 2003 as the fourth ranked amateur in the country according to the National Racing Calendar points classification, and finished in the top 10 of both the Elite and Under 23 National Road Race Championships. Oliver Stiler Cote and Josh Gewirtz both return for 2004, and will spend time racing with the US National Team in Europe. At only nineteen years of age, Stiler Cote was on the podium at the Under 23 National Road Race Championships in Texas in 2003.

Other returning riders include cyclocross superstar Johs Huseby who represented the US at the 2003 Cyclocross World Championships, and Don Mills whose tactics and strength make him a part of every team win. Rider managers Chris Peck and Curt Davis continue with the team, and the seven wins between them in 2003 prove that they are as strong as ever.

New additions for 2004 include Shawn Milne, who raced for the squad in 2002, before riding full time for the US National Team in Europe in 2003. He will split his time between Fiordifrutta and the National Team in 2004, and has represented the US at the last two World Road Championships for Under 23 Men. Also joining the team is Phil Wong, an amazing climber who finished second behind Saturn’s Tom Danielson at the 2003 Mt Washington Hillclimb, setting a new amateur record despite horrendous weather conditions.

Peter Hult and Dan Cassidy come to Fiordifrutta after making rapid progress through the USCF ranking system, and both have proved that they can win against New England’s finest riders. Peter’s older brother Rob Hult is the final new addition for 2004, having proved his power and experience with three cyclocross wins in the fall of 2003. Complete rider bios can be found below.

The team is also happy to announce the following supporting sponsors:

Biemme (Clothing)
Briko (Helmets and Eyewear)
Cannondale (Frames and SI Cranks)
Clif Bar (Nutritional Products)
Dr. Dan O’Neill – NH Knee Center (Healthcare)
Headsweats (Headgear)
Kool Stop (Brake Pads)
Michelin (Tires and tubes)
Northwave (Shoes)
Pedros (Bike care products)
Selle Italia (Saddles)
Spinergy (Carbon Tillium Wheels)
Time (Impact Pedals)
Yoozed.com (Online Auctions, team merchandise)

Mike Dietrich, Age 23, Category 1, Norwood, MA

Mike was the nation’s fourth ranked amateur for 2003, and can climb and sprint with the pros. He has raced internationally in Cuba, and is excited to show that he can be one of the best this year.

1st 2003 Tour of Southeast Ohio, Stage 1
3rd 2003 Tour of Southeast Ohio, Overall
5th 2003 Univest Grand Prix, PA
6th 2003 Green Mountain Stage Race, Overall, VT
8th 2003 Elite National Championships Road Race, PA
1st 2003 Marblehead Circuit Race, MA
1st 2003 Tufts Criterium, MA
1st 2002 North Atlantic Time Trial Championships, Under 23 Men

Jon Hamblen, Age 28, Category 1, Carlisle, MA

Jon has immense experience as a bike racer, he began racing at age 14 and has spent three years as a professional, two of those on the Navigators team. Jon was 1998's Velonews Amateur of the Year and has posted top results at National Calendar races around the country. Jon is the Fiordifrutta rider with the most wins, with eight in 2002 and six in 2003. He is one of the best amateurs in the country and finished 2nd at the 2002 National Road Race Championships in Tennessee.

2nd 2002 Elite National Championships, Road Race, TN
1st 2001 Tour of Southeast Ohio, Individual G.C.
1st 2003 Yarmouth Clam Festival, ME
1st 1999 Tour of Willamete, King of the Mountain competition, OR
2nd 1998 Univest Gran Prix, PA
3rd 1998 Tour de 'Toona Stage Race, Individual G.C., PA
3rd 1998 Elite National Championships, Road Race
4th 2001 BMC GP Arlington, MA

Oliver Stiler Cote, Age 20, Category 1, Arundel, ME

Oliver enters his second year on the team, and was one of the world’s finest junior cyclists with a 2nd place overall finish in one of the premier junior stage races, Canada’s Tour L’Abitibi. For 2004, he will split his time between the US National team and Fiordifrutta, and he brings the strength and experience of five full seasons of racing in events around the world. Oliver represented the US at the 2002 Junior World Championships in Belgium, and also finished 18th overall in the UCI Junior Road World Cup final standings.

5th 2003 Under 23 National Championships Road Race, TX
6th 2003 Four Bridge of Elgin Road Race, Under 23, IL
2nd 2002 Junior National Time Trial Championships
2nd 2002 Tour L’Abitibi, Overall
1st 2002 GP Bessuit Juniors, Belgium
5th 2001 Fitchburg/Longsjo Classic, Junior, MA
2nd 2000 National Road Championships, 15-16 Road Race

Shawn Milne, Age 23, Category 1, Gloucester, MA

Shawn returns to Fiordifrutta for 2004, after spending 2003 racing full time with the US National team. Shawn is one of the country’s top young cyclists with a fantastic sprint. He was selected to represent the United States at the 2002 and 2003 Under 23 World Road Race Championships.

1st 2001 Fitchburg/Longsjo Classic KOM Competition, MA
1st 2002 Naugatuck Criterium, CT
3rd 2001 Palmer Road Race, MA
3rd 2001 Cloudsplitter Classic Criterium, NY
4th 2001 Monson Road Race, MA
6th 2002 Elite National Road Race Championships, TN
7th 2002 Under 23 National Road Race Championships, NC

Johannes Huseby, Age 29, Category 2, Somerville, MA

Johs was a member of the 2003 US Cyclocross World's Team in Monopoli, Italy. He spent 2003 as one of the team's chief support riders, and his goal is to bring his incredible power to road events. Johs is a former National Collegiate Champion and has competed in the World Championships for Cyclocross several times. Johs is a Product Manager at Pedro's USA and helps formulate the bicycle care products used on the teams' bicycles.

1st 2003 Palmer Cyclocross, MA
2nd 2003 UNH Cyclocross
3rd 2003 Tufts Criterium, MA
5th 2003 Marblehead Circuit Race, MA
4th 2003 NEBC Cyclocross, UCI Verge Series #6, MA
7th 2003 Verge New England Series Overall
1st 2002 Verge New England Cyclocross Race #5
3rd 2002 Verge New England Cyclocross Series, Overall

Peter Hult, Age 23, Category 2, Harvard, MA

Peter is a new addition to the team for 2004, and brings well rounded skills that propelled him to a top-30 finish overall at the 2003 Tour de Toona against the nation’s best professionals. He is the younger brother of teammate Rob, and this family duo should bring considerable horsepower to the squad this year.

1st 2003 Monson Road Race, MA
1st 2003 Jamestown Road Race, RI
3rd 2003 Jiminy Peak Road Race, MA

Dan Cassidy, Age 22, Category 2, Burlington, VT

Dan is an up and coming rider who has rapidly progressed through the USCF ranking system, in less than two seasons of racing. He is a University of Vermont psychology major, and is excited to reach his potential this season.

1st 2003 Unionvale Road Race, NY
1st 2003 Dartmouth Road Race, Collegiate
5th 2003 Central NH Road Race
34th 2003 Tour de Toona, Overall GC, PA

Phil Wong, Age 24, Category 2, Gloucester, MA

Phil is an outstanding climber who finished second behind Tom Danielson (Saturn) at one of the nation’s most prestigious hill climbs, where 600 riders scale New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington. Phil’s time of 55:23 was good enough to set a new amateur record, despite the high winds and fog that covered the summit.

2nd 2003 Mt. Washington Hillclimb, NH
2nd Central New Hampshire Road Race
9th 2003 Fitchburg-Longsjo Stage Race, Stage 3, MA

Josh Gewirtz, Age 20, Category 2, Bethany CT

The 2004 season will be Josh’s second year in senior ranks, but he has already had a stellar career as a junior rider with one National Championship title on the track, and many wins in road events. He has raced internationally in Brazil, Cuba, and Germany, and had a very successful first year with Fiordifrutta in 2003. Josh is a student at Colorado College but will spend most of the racing season at home in Connecticut.

1st 2003 Tour of Southeast Ohio, Stage 4
1st 2002 Fitchburg/Longsjo Circuit Race, Junior, MA
7th 2002 Junior National Criterium Championships
12th 2002 Tour L’Abitibi, Stage 4 time trial, Canada
2nd 2001 Tour of Havana Del Este, Cuba
1st 2000 Junior National Championships, 15-16 Scratch Race
15th 2000 Junior Pan-American Championships, Brazil

Don Mills, Age 33, Category 1, Exeter, NH

Donny is the longest standing member of the team, dating back to his team debut in 1992. His tactical skill and ability to sacrifice himself for the team makes him an important part of every result. Donny is an instructor in physical education and dorm parent at Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. Although he never quite reached the professional ranks as a hockey player, he coaches the JV hockey team as well as waterpolo and cycling at Exeter.

1st 1998 New England Road Race Championships
1st 2001 Yarmouth Clam Fest, ME
1st 2000 Falmouth Road Race, ME
2nd 2001 Marblehead Circuit Race, MA
3rd 2000 National Cyclocross Championships (30-34 Men)

Rob Hult, Age 33, Category 2, Weston, MA

Rob’s cycling career originally took off back in 1997 as one of New England’s top mountain bike stars, when the won the NORBA national at Mt Snow in the semi-pro ranks and won New England’s premier race series as well. Since then he has moved on to road and cyclocross racing, becoming one of New England’s top cyclocrossers. Rob brings lots of experience to the team and is excited to help our younger riders grow.

1st 2003 Palmer Cyclocross, MA
1st 2003 HVVC Cyclocross, CT
2nd 2003 Pittsfield Cyclocross, MA
2nd 2003 Hopkinton Cyclocross, MA
7th 2003 Verge Cyclocross Series #1, UCI, ME

Curt Davis, Age 32, Category 1, Sandy Hook, CT

Curt has been one the nation’s strongest amateurs for many years, with one of his top results being a 3rd place at the Elite National Road Race Championships. Curt is a threat to win any event that he enters and uses his considerable power to help the team to many victories. Curt is an engineer at Cannondale, as well as co-manager of the team.

3rd 2002 National Cyclocross Championships, 30-34 Men, CA
1st 2001 Housatonic Valley Classic, Points Competition, CT
2nd 2003 Capital Region Road Race, NY

Chris Peck, Age 33, Category 1, Southbury, CT

Chris brings a wealth of experience to the team, which he puts to use both on the racecourse and as team director. The national level is where Chris excels, with many top twenty finishes in the Elite Road National Championships. Chris is an engineer at Cannondale, and designed the CAAD7 frames that the team competes on.

1st 2003 Capital Region Road Race, NY
1st 2003 Vermont 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race
1st 2003 Fox Hill Cyclocross, CT
2nd 2003 Unionvale Road Race, NY
2nd 2003 Lake Auburn Road Race, ME