Huseby Takes 3rd at New England Cross Season Opener, September 26

I got the hole shot at the Competitive Edge Cyclocross in Northfield, MA and Mark McCormack (Colavita) and Jesse Anthony (cyclocrossworld.com) came with me. Mark pulled through and then put the burners on, and after a lap and a half opened up a bit of a gap on me. There was a group of about 10 only a few seconds behind me and Jesse was slowly falling off of Mark's blistering pace in front. I was fighting to recover while at the same time maintaining a gap over the big group behind. I kept accelerating around the corners so as not to allow them to catch me and slowly opened up a bigger and bigger gap and started closing in on Jesse, but finished 3rd probably 25 seconds down. This year, the course moved back to the old location - up on the hill where there was a considerable amount of climbing. They also incorporated a lot of off camber sections into the course which made for a challenge to forgotten technical skills.

Huseby Featured in 2005 Michelin Catalog

Johs Huseby made the back cover of the Michelin catalog with a photo from the 2003 cyclocross season.

Hult and Cassidy Take 4th and 8th at Green Mountain Stage Race, September 3-6

Fiordifrutta sent a four-man team to Vermont’s biggest race of the year, and the squad came through with great results highlighted by Peter Hult’s 4th place finish which placed him as the top amateur. Friday’s mass start hillclimb saw Dan Cassidy off the front of the race, only to be caught inside the final kilometer. The team put in a great ride with Cassidy 11th, Wong 13th and Hult 19th. Saturday’s circuit race was relatively uneventful for the boys in red, but Sunday’s queen stage was a thriller.

Compared to last year, an extra mountain pass and 40 miles of distance had been added to this stage, making for 103 total miles. In the first 10 miles of the race, Chris Peck escaped with 4 other riders and they were soon joined by 6 others. This group gained up to seven minutes on the field, but a chase from Jet Fuel and Louis Garneau brought the remnants of the field up to the break by the final ascent to the summit of Appalachian Gap. Hult and Cassidy were able to stay fresh for the final climb, with Cassidy 4th on the day and Hult in 7th.

Sunday’s Criterium in downtown Burlington saw Hult bridge up to an early breakaway including race leader Mark McCormack (Colavita) and Charles Dionne (Webcor). Hult hung on for 7th place which bumped him up to 4th place in the overall standings. The team looks forward to the Univest race in Souderton, PA this weekend.

Hamblen Wins Winston Salem Criterium, NC, September 11th

Jon Hamblen won the third annual Downtown Winston Salem 4th Street Celebration Criterium. The 30 mile event, run on the same course as last month’s lead up race to the Bank of America Invitational, featured a half mile lap with four corners and two small hills. The race was strung out from the gun with riders trying to escape and lap the field early on the short circuit. Many fast sprinters were in attendance, including Adam Myerson (Mathis Bro's/Sharper Image), Jeff Hopkins(Jittery Joes), and national criterium champion Frank Pipp (Endeavor Cycling).

With constant attacks and chases, most of the riders were fairly tired with 15 laps to go. When a move of five went clear Hamblen bridged across the gap and made contact, but so did four other riders, too many for the break to succeed as some guys would choose to sit on. When the field neared the break Hamblen took off with Charlie Storm in an attempt to get a move going in the last 10 laps. The two stayed out alone pulling terribly hard and gaining a few seconds on the bunch each time around. In the end it was Hamblen who won the race in the two up sprint, commenting afterwards "My Fiordifrutta Cannondale was really dialed in, Michelin tires were gripping and the Spinergy wheels were fast. The bike felt good and was fast in and out of the corners."

Wong 2nd at Mt Washington Hillclimb, August 21

Under typical Mt Washington weather, the 2004 race lived up to the usual epic conditions with sustained winds at 40mph, plenty of rain and summit temps at 40 degrees. After talking 2nd in 2003, I was determined to try my best to get the victory. From the gun I lead out the first 200metres of flat road. Once we hit the hill, Jesse Anthony(ECV) attacked, completely blowing the race apart in the first half mile. As he started to feel the effects of his sharp acceleration, I took up the lead.

I had a good gap for the first 2 miles. At which point Justin England (Webcor) got on my wheel. He soon put in an acceleration and put 20-40 seconds into me. I steadily closed the gap by the 4 mile marker and right away we started to work together to shelter each other from the wind. However I ended up doing the lions share of the work as his pulls were a little slower and I didn’t want anyone else to come up to us. As we suffered along in the wind and muddy unpaved sections, the remaining miles counted down. With 1 mile to go I accelerated but England stuck to my wheel.

I knew he would also try to attack so in the last 3/4 of a mile I ramped up the pace hoping to leave it to a drag race up the final 22% grade to the finish. But with 500 meters to go he attacked on a steep pitch and got a 10 second gap. I tried to claw my way back but I wasn't making up any ground. I hit the final 22% section sprinting as he started to blow up. I closed his lead down to 5 seconds by the finish for second place again and the closest race in the history of the event.

You can check out photos from the race at Jonathan McElvery’s site.

Huseby Wins Land Mine Classic Short Track Mountain Bike Race - Wompatuck State Park, MA, August 21

I decided at the last minute on Friday afternoon to head down to this race. I have done well in these races in the past, but hadn't done one for several years and heard that there was a fairly decent prize list. I got my new Cannondale Scalpel all set and headed down there. There were not a lot of people and I thought immediately that there wouldn't be enough people for my category, but it turned out eight guys showed up for the Pro/Open class. It was a short, probably 3 minute loop and we raced for 30 minutes plus a lap. It was fast from the start and there were a bunch of guys battling for the front spot. The course was mostly flat with one very minimally technical section in the woods - otherwise it was an open grass field.

I attacked very hard a couple of laps in and we shed all but 3 guys. We then rode together for awhile and one guy was yo-yo-ing off the back and I attacked again - this time only dragging one other guy along. He is a seasoned Pro and I knew he would be my challenger. We then switched lead every lap and helped put a big gap into the third place rider. With one lap to go, I let the other guy lead and he tried to accelerate hard very early and I took advantage of this and attacked for the final time winning the race! I was excited as I had felt good and felt like I had timed it perfectly. Soon after we went to go collect our winnings and I was prepared to get a little over $100. To my surprise, I was handed a check for $500! Whew. For 30 minutes of work - it was a great payday. Our moonlighting teammate, Jon Page has also won this race in the past. Next year, I am expecting Hamblen to be out there - in his skinsuit!