Fiordifrutta Announces 2008 Team

Fiordifrutta, an Italian producer of organic jams and honeys, is proud to announce the roster of the number one ranked US amateur cycling team. The team has spent the last five years near the top of the National Racing Calendar points classification and has graduated nine riders to the professional ranks in the last few years. The squad is based entirely in New England and it racked up thirty-four wins in 2007, racing a full road and cyclocross season.

In late February, the team will start its season with a training camp including a tour of Rigoni USA which provides the title sponsorship for the sixth straight year through its Fiordifrutta brand. “Fiordifrutta is pleased to have a long-term relationship with such a fast group of racers who are great ambassadors for my product” said Rigoni USA’s Claudio Mucci. The team is also pleased to have performance testing support from Incline Training in Massachusetts which is run by PhD physiologist and former Webcor director Jay Gump. The team’s schedule for 2008 includes NRC and National Championship events as well as regional races on the East coast.

The squad 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: Jonathan Page (Colavita/Sutter Home, Sunweb/Projob), Mike Jones (Healthnet), Shawn Milne (Navigators, Healthnet), Justin Spinelli (Saeco, Navigators), Dan Timmerman (Kodak/Sierra Nevada), Mike Cody (Jelly Belly), Matt Svatek (Sportsbook.com), Mike Dietrich (Kodak/Sierra Nevada), and Phil Wong (Jittery Joes). Team riders who have ridden for the US National Team in Europe include: Oliver Stiler-Cote, Shawn Milne, Darby Thomas, Robbie Dapice, Donny Lopez, Matt White, and Johannes Huseby. Team members have held more than thirteen National Championship titles.

The team in 2008 is a close group of sixteen riders, consisting of twelve returning veterans and four new additions. The veterans are highlighted by team leaders Matt White and Josh Dillon. Last year these two riders were often together on the results board, with 5th and 7th place finishes in the elite national road race, and 5th and 6th place spots respectively in the elite national time trial. White is also a cyclocross superstar on the national circuit with multiple UCI race wins in the last two years.

Fiordifrutta also supports some of the nation’s top U23 riders including Todd Nordblom (3rd at U23 road nationals, 2nd at collegiate road nations) and Toby Marzot (1st at collegiate road nationals, two time US world team member for cyclocross). Jamey Driscoll was 2nd at U23 cyclocross nationals and has won the Crank Brothers US Cyclocross Grand Prix for U23 the last two years. Another strong U23 rider is Hayden Brooks from Australia who just finished 13th in his national time trial championships.

Other returning veterans include Cory Burns (8th at elite time trial nationals) and Josh Lipka (two time New England junior time trial champion). Experience and leadership on the road come from Chris Rozdilsky, Johs Huseby, and Will Riffelmacher.

New riders include Phil Gaimon (7th at Univest and 12th at elite road nationals), Alister Ratcliff (2nd in the Green Mountain Stage Race’s road race), sprinter Eric Schildge, and New England up-and-comer Steve Weller.

Curt Davis and Chris Peck continue managing the squad and have been involved with this same team since 1995 as it has eventually evolved to promote the Fiordifrutta brand.

Complete rider bios can be found below and the team is also happy to announce the following supporting sponsors:

Cannondale (Frames, Forks and SI Cranks)
Adidas (shoes, clothing)
Clif Bar (Nutritional Products)
Rudy Project (Helmets and Eyewear)
Mavic (Wheels)
SRAM (Componentry)
Time (Pedals and Stems)
Selle Italia (Saddles)
Pedros (Bike care products)
Headsweats (Headgear)
Thomson (Stems and Seatposts)
Kool Stop (Brake Pads)
Incline Training (Fitness and Athletic Consulting)

Team roster:

Hayden Brooks (1)
Cory Burns (1)
Josh Dillon (1)
Jamie Driscoll (1)
Phil Gaimon (1)
Johannes Huseby (1)
Josh Lipka (2)
Toby Marzot (1)
Todd Nordblom (1)
Alister Ratcliff (2)
Chris Rozdilsky (1)
Eric Schildge (1)
Steve Weller (2)
Matt White (1)
Will Riffelmacher (1)
Curt Davis (1) rider-manager
Chris Peck manager

Hayden Brooks, Age 21, Category 1, Hadley, MA by way of Australia

Hayden was Fiordifrutta’s first ever Australian signing in 2007, and he started off 2008 with a 13th place finish in his home country’s national time trial championships for under 23’s. He will spend the season living in Massachusetts, and he is a young rider with a lot of potential as proven with his 3rd place overall GC finish at the NRC’s 2006 Nature Valley stage race in the under 23’s.

13th 2008 Australian National Time Trial Championships, Under 23
3rd 2006 Nature Valley Grand Prix NRC, Overall GC, Under 23, MN
1st 2006 BRADA Tour of Jamaica, Stage 4

Cory Burns, Age 25, Category 1, Watertown, NY

Cory is back for a second year with Fiordifrutta and is on the fast track to cycling success. He finished in the top 10 at the national time trial championships and also dominated NY’s toughest hill climb at Whiteface Mountain. Cory is an all around rider and his email address of wannabeapro@hotmail.com shows he is determined to succeed.

1st 2007 Whiteface Mountain Hill climb, NY
1st 2006 Owasco Stage Race, Overall GC, NY
1st 2006 Fitchburg Stage Race, Overall GC, Cat 2, MA

Josh Dillon, Age 29, Category 1, Burlington, VT

Josh has long been a strongman in New England and has become one of the top amateurs in the country. In 2007 he took 7th at elite road nationals, and he knows that 2008 is his year to step it up even more.

7th 2007 Elite Road National Championships, PA
6th 2007 Elite TT National Championships, PA
9th 2006 Elite Road National Championships, PA
1st 2007 Turtle Pond Road Race, NH
1st 2006 Tour of Shenandoah, Stage 4, VA
6th 2007 Mt Hood Classic, Stage 3, OR
1st 2007 Housatonic Hills RR, CT

Jamey Driscoll, Age 21, Category 1, Jericho, VT

Jamey wrapped up his last U23 cyclocross season by winning both the Crank Brothers GP U23 and collegiate Nationals for a second year, and sweeping the New England Series U23. He narrowly missed U23 Nationals, clearly due to the lack of the mullet. After racing cyclocross internationally, he will be eager to get back on the road in New England and the national circuit. His cross strength should transfer to skinny tires like in 2007 with a solo victory in the ECCC championships and 2nd place in the Housatonic Hills Road Race to teammate Josh Dillon.

1st 2007 and 2006 Collegiate National Cyclocross Championships
2nd 2007 National Cyclocross Championships, Under 23
4th 2006 National Cyclocross Championships, Under 23, RI
1st 2007 and 2006 Crank Brothers Grand Prix Cyclocross Series, Under 23
1st 2007 Eastern Conference Collegiate Championship Road Race

Phil Gaimon, Age 22, Category 1, Gainesville, FL

Phil is a new rider for the squad with impressive talent and results. His breakout season was 2007 where he put in a strong ride at elite road nationals and finished 7th at the Univest Grand Prix against many of the nation’s top pros. Phil is an English major at the University of Florida and maintains his own website at www.philthethrill.com

7th 2007 Univest Grand Prix, UCI
12th 2007 Elite National Road Race Championships
12th 2007 Tripeaks Overall GC, NRC

Johannes Huseby, Age 33, Category 1, Danbury, CT

Johs was a member of the 2003 US Cyclocross World's Team in Monopoli, Italy. He is also a former National Collegiate Cyclocross Champion and the mountain bike product manager for Cannondale. He is excited to bring his experience to the team for another season.

1st 2007 Faulkner Honda Criterium, PA
2nd 2005 National Cyclocross Championships, 30-34 Men, RI
1st 2006 Putney Cyclocross, MA

Josh Lipka, Age 20, Category 2, Cheshire, MA

Josh is UNH student who shows tremendous cycling potential. He is a two time winner of the New England Junior Time Trial Championships, and has made a rapid rise through the cycling ranks. He looks forward to continuing to push his cycling development and dedication.

2nd 2007 Fitchburg Stage Race, Stage 4, Cat 2, MA
3rd 2007 Fitchburg Stage Race, Stage 2, Cat 2, MA
1st 2004 and 2005 New England Time Trial Championships, Junior

Toby Marzot, Age 20, Category 2, Falmouth, MA

Charles “Toby” Marzot comes back for a second season with the squad and this 20 year old rider has a bright future ahead of him. The Dartmouth student represented the US at the under 23 Cyclocross World Championships in 2006, and won the collegiate national road race championship in 2007.

1st 2007 Collegiate National Road Race Championships
1st 2007 Cyclonauts Road Race, MA
1st 2006 Verge New England Cyclocross Series, Overall, Under 23

Todd Nordblom, Age 22, Category 1, Holderness, NH

Todd returns for a third year with the team, and is one of the top U23 riders in the country with a 3rd place finish at the 2007 road race championships. He also was narrowly outsprinted by his Fiordifrutta teammate Toby Marzot for the win at the collegiate national road race championships, and looks forward to a rematch in 2008!

3rd 2007 Elite National Road Championships, PA
2nd 2007 Collegiate National Road Race Championships

Alister Ratcliff, Age 20, Category 2, Newtown, CT

Alister has impressed team managers Curt and Chris since he started racing as a junior in the local Connecticut races. 2007 was Alister’s year to shine and is a fantastic climber who is learning to use his power on the flats as well.

2nd 2007 Green Mountain Stage Race, Stage 3 RR
5th 2007 Tour of the Gila, Stage 5, Cat 2

Will Riffelmacher, Category 1, Age 26, VT

A Harvard graduate who currently lives in VT, Will jumped from Category 4 to 2 in 2006, and looks to be on a fast track to cycling success. He is a former world class rower, and also won the KOM competition at the Tour de Toona for Cat 2 men.

15th 2007 Elite National Time Trial Championships
1st 2007 Owasco Stage Race, Overall GC, NY
1st 2007 Hollenbeck Road Race, NY

Chris Rozdilsky, Age 33, Category 1, Bethel, CT

2008 is Chris’s fourth year with the team after a solid 2007 where he led the team logistically at many NRC races. Chris was ranked in the top 25 amateurs in the NRC standings in 2006. Chris is an exercise physiologist and coach who works with many clients and athletes in the Northeast. Many of the team riders use Chris as a resource for training and planning their season.

10th 2004 Tour de Toona Stage 3, PA
13th 2006 Elite Nationals TT

Eric Schildge, Age 20, Category 1, Hanover, NH

Eric is a new rider to the team who is developing into a top sprinter. This Dartmouth student posted numerous podium finishes including a win in Fitchburg’s circuit race (Cat 2) and a 3rd place in the Tour of Somerville (Cat 2). He is looking forward to having the power of the Fiordifrutta lead out train pulling for him in 2007.

1st 2007 Fitchburg Stage Race, Stage 2, Cat 2
2nd 2007 Collegiate National Championships Omnium
3rd 2007 Tour of Somerville, Cat 2

Matt White, Age 25, Category 1, Hadley, MA

Matt is one of the nation’s top cyclocross riders and he represented the US at the 2004 and 2005 World Championships. He has made the transition to the road, developing into a dominant road racer with a 5th place finish at the Elite National Road Championships. Matt was the #4 amateur in the 2007 National Racing Calendar point’s standings.

5th 2007 Elite National Road Championships, PA
5th 2007 Elite National Time Trial Championships, PA
8th 2006 Elite National Cyclocross Championships, RI
4th 2004 National Cyclocross Championships, Under 23, OR
5th 2005 National Criterium Championships, Under 23 Men, UT

Steve Weller, Age 26, Category 2, Hadley, MA

Steve is a professional cycling coach who is rapidly becoming a contender at some of New England’s toughest races. He has shown steady improvement over the last three years is excited to contribute to the team’s success.

4th 2007 Williams Criterium, MA
10th 2007 Fitchburg Stage Race, RR, Cat 2

Curt Davis, Age 36, Category 1, Sandy Hook, CT

Curt has been (had been) one the nation's strongest amateurs for many years, with some of his top results being a 3rd place at the Elite National Road Championships, and a 2nd place at the Mt Washington hill climb. Curt now enjoys riding more than ever and occasionally races with the team only if the course is flat enough! Curt is an engineer at Cannondale where he takes care of frame needs for all of Cannondale's top pro teams, and he is also co-manager of the team.

7th 2006 Green Mountain Stage Race, Stage 1, VT
5th 2006 National Cyclocross Championships, 35-39 Men, RI

2007 Cyclocross Season Review

The cyclocross season has come to a close, so now is a perfect time for a review of the year’s action. This year’s key cross racers were Jamey Driscoll, Matt White, and Toby Marzot, with other members of the squad occasionally jumping into the action. Unlike most road teams, Fiordifrutta puts in a full cyclocross season, gaining even more publicity for our sponsors at an otherwise quiet part of the cycling season. Over the years, the popularity and exposure of US cyclocross races has improved dramatically, and most publications have plenty of space for cyclocross coverage while the pro roadies take some time off.

Our cross superstar this year was Jamey Driscoll, who picked up his second straight U23 title in the USGP Overall Rankings. Driscoll also won the collegiate national cyclocross championship for the second year in a row, and represented the US at the World Cyclocross Championships. He was basically unstoppable all year, winning the New England Championship Series, with a total of 14 U23 wins for the season. Against the nation’s top pros at the biggest UCI races, Driscoll often finished in the top 10 overall, and he will be force when he finally hits the senior ranks.

Driscoll was outsprinted at U23 Nationals and ended up second, but then pushed on to win the collegiate race and then travel to Europe over Christmas to prepare for worlds. His ride at world’s was solid, finishing on the lead lap in 34th, but this was finally the one rare day this year that he just did not have the legs for a top finish. Jamey was also featured in a Velonews print article that is attached.

Matt White had a solid season that did not quite live up to his own high expectations, but he finished with two wins - the Coonamesset Eco Cross in MA, and the Capital Cross Classic, a UCI event in Virginia. White started the season by being invited to the spectacle that was the Las Vegas nighttime cross event, finishing in the top 20. His lucky numbers for the UCI races were 6th and 7th, and White was always up there in contention with the nation’s top cross pros.

Toby Marzot had a tough season battling with illness, but he came back after a mid-season break to finish 19th at U23 nationals. Josh Dillon also spent the cross season trying to maintain his fitness from the road season, and had some good results despite a crash in a Canadian UCI event. Josh Lipka spent his first season as a cross racer dominating the B events. Johs Huseby has a couple of top five results in early races, before retiring for the year to prepare for the birth of his daughter Lola who arrived on November 1st.

2007 Cyclocross Results

1st USGP Overall Series Title, Under 23
1st New England Championship Series Title, Under 23
1st National Cyclocross Championships, Collegiate
1st USGP Mercer Cup, Under 23, Day 1, UCI, NJ
1st Capital Cross Classic, UCI, VA
1st Grand Prix of Gloucester, Under 23, Day 1, UCI, MA
1st, 5th Grand Prix of Gloucester, Under 23, Day 2, UCI, MA
1st Granogue Cross, Under 23, UCI, DE
1st Wissahickon Cross, Under 23, UCI, PA
1st Chainbiter Cyclocross, Under 23, UCI, CT
1st Cycle Smart International Cyclocross, Under 23, UCI, MA
1st USGP Cyclocross Toyota Portland Cup, Under 23, Day 1, OR
1st USGP Cyclocross Toyota Portland Cup, Under 23, Day 2, OR
1st W.E. Stedman GP Cyclocross, Under 23, RI
1st NBX Grand Prix of Cross, Under 23, RI
1st Schenectady Central Park Cyclocross, NY
1st, 5th Coonamesset Eco Cross, MA
1st, 5th Baystate Cyclocross, Under 23, MA

2nd National Cyclocross Championships, Under 23 Men
2nd USGP Derby City Round 1, Under 23, UCI, Kentucky
2nd, 4th Bedford Springs Cyclocross, MA
2nd New Jersey State Fair Cyclocross
3rd Mercer Cup USGP, Under 23, Day 2, UCI, NJ

5th Amesbury Cyclocross, MA
5th USGP Derby City Round 2, Under 23, UCI, Kentucky
5th NBX Grand Prix of Cross, Elite, RI

6th Whitmore’s Landscaping Supercross, Day 2, UCI, NY
6th USGP Derby City Round 1, Elite, UCI Kentucky
6th USGP Cyclocross Toyota Portland Cup, Elite, Day 1, OR
6th USGP Cyclocross Toyota Portland Cup, Elite, Day 2, OR

7th Whitmore’s Landscaping Supercross, Day 1, UCI, NY
7th Grand Prix of Gloucester, Day 1, UCI, MA
7th Grand Prix of Gloucester, Day 2, UCI, MA
7th Cycle Smart International Cyclocross, Under 23, UCI, MA

7th Suckerbrook Cyclocross, MA
8th USGP Derby City Round 2, Elite, UCI Kentucky
8th Toronto UCI Cyclocross #1