The 2003 Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks Team
December 31, 2002
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Fior di Frutta/Wheelworks Team Announcement - 2003
Under the 2002 title sponsorship of Wheelworks/Cannondale, the team spent much of the season as the top ranked amateur team in the US National Racing Calendar points classification. Although they finished 2002 as number two in the rankings, the team is proud of their year and excited to enter 2003 with a new title sponsor and many new riders.
The new primary title sponsor is FiordiFrutta, an Italian company that makes organic jams. The Connecticut based US distributor of the products has been involved with cycling for many years and is overjoyed at their opportunity to be involved with a top amateur cycling team that has graduated many riders to the professional ranks. The secondary title sponsor is Wheelworks, one the nation's top bicycle retailers with stores in the Boston area, and the team is privileged to have their support for the sixth straight year.
With the development of young riders one of its primary goals, the team is pleased to announce that six riders from 2002 will be moving on to the elite ranks of cycling. Jonathan Page will join Prime Alliance as a first year professional, and Jon Hamblen and Mike Jones will ride professionally with the Go-Mart/West Virginia team. Matt Svatek will join the new professional squad Sportsbook.com. Shawn Milne, the top US finisher in the 2002 Under 23 Road World Championships, along with Darby Thomas, 6th place at the US Under 23 Road National Championships, will both be moving on to full-time schedules with the US National Team based in Europe. They join former team riders who have moved on to the next level, including: Justin Spinelli, who has raced for the Division 1 Saeco professional team; Peter Baker, who will race for an elite Italian amateur team; as well as Robbie Dapice and Donny Lopez who have raced with the national team.
The 2003 season sees the return of team veterans Don Mills, Curt Davis, and Chris Peck, along with an inspired group of new riders. Todd Herriott from NYC is one of the nation's top amateurs who won the 2002 Univest Grand Prix in Pennsylvania against a top international field. Josh Anthony, a former junior national cyclocross champion, and top cyclocrosser Johannes Huseby will bring their amazing fitness over to road events. Oliver Stiler Cote and Josh Gewirtz, will join the team as first year senior riders who both have a tremendous amount of international experience. Oliver was the 2nd place overall finisher at one of the world's top amateur stage races, the 2002 Tour L'Abitibi. Complete rider bios can be found below.
Oliver
Stiler Cote, Age 19, Category 1, Arundel, ME
Oliver comes to the team as one of the world's finest junior cyclists, with a 2nd place overall finish in one of the world's premier junior stage races, Canada's Tour L'Abitibi. 2003 will be his first year in the senior ranks, 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
6th 2003 Four Bridge of Elgin Road Race, Under 23
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
2nd 2000 National Road Championships, 15-16 Road Race
Josh
Anthony, Age 21, Category 1, Beverly, MA
Although he is only 21 years of age, Josh has a long history as one of the nation's top up-and-coming cyclists. Josh's specialty has been the power and finesse of cyclocross racing, with three trips to the World Championships with the US National Team. He was the 2000 Junior National Cyclocross Champion and looks forward to transferring his skills to road events this year.
5th
2002 National Cyclocross Championships, Under 23
2nd
2001 SuperCup Cyclocross Series, Under23
1st
2000 Junior National Cyclocross Championships
Johannes
Huseby, Age 26, Category 2, Somerville, MA
Johs is one of the US's top cyclocross riders with wins in the Verge New England Series and a third place overall finish. His goal is to bring his incredible power to road events, and we know he will be an important addition to the team.
1st
2002 Verge New England Cyclocross Race #5
3rd
2002 Verge New England Cyclocross Series, Overall
Josh
Gewirtz, Age 19, Category 2, Bethany CT
The 2003 season will be Josh's first year in senior ranks, but he has 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 will bring much enthusiasm and strong all-around skills to the team. 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
7th 2002 Junior National Criterium Championships
12th 2002 Tour L’Abitibi, Stage 4 time trial
2nd 2001 Tour of Havana Del Este
1st 2000 Junior National Championships, 15-16 Scratch Race
15th 2000 Junior Pan-American Championships, Brazil
Mike
Dietrich, Age 22, Category 2, Norwood, MA
Mike is one of the nation's strongest under 23 riders having won the North Atlantic Time Trial Championship for under 23 men in 2002. 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
2nd 2003 Tour of Southeast Ohio, Overall
5th 2003 Univest Grand Prix
6th 2003 Green Mountain Stage Race, Overall
8th 2003 Elite National Championships Road Race
1st 2003 Marblehead Circuit Race
1st 2003 Tufts Criterium
1st 2002 North Atlantic Time Trial Championships, Under 23 Men
Curt Davis, Age 31, 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 (or drop out of) 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 a coach for many junior cyclists.
3rd 2002 National Cyclocross Championships, 30-34 Men
1st 2001 Housatonic Valley Classic, Points Competition
2nd 2003 Capital Region Road Race, NY
Chris
Peck, Age 32, 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
2nd 2003 Unionvale Road Race, NY
2nd 2003 Lake Auburn Road Race, ME
1st 2003 Fox Hill Cyclocross, CT
7th 2002 National Cyclocross Championships, 30-34 Men
Don
Mills, Age 32, Category 2, 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 a coach and dorm parent at Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
John Hamblen , Age 27, Category 1, Amherst, MA
Jon has immense experience as a bike racer, he began racing at age 14 and has spent two years as a professional rider for the Navigators team. Jon was 1998's Velonews Amateur of Year and has posted top results at National Calendar races around the country. Jon is the Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks rider with the most wins, with eight in 2002 and four 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 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
Rob Hult, Age 32, Category 1, 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.
2nd 2003 Pittsfield Cyclocross, MA
2nd 2003 Hopkinton Cyclocross, MA
7th 2003 Verge Cyclocross Series #1, UCI, ME
The 2002 Wheelworks Team - sure, most of them have moved on to
bigger and better things, but that's still a pretty tough-looking bunch!