Picchiottino and Whicker do Chattanooga cycling proud at UCI World Championship


              FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, April 14, 2012, bikes cast long shadows in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, April 14, 2012.  In a move aimed at protecting young riders who regularly pedal through busy streets in Netherlands while looking at their phone, developers said Wednesday June 21, 2017, they are developing a lock system to stop the dangerous practice by blocking the phone when cycling. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, FILE)
FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, April 14, 2012, bikes cast long shadows in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, April 14, 2012. In a move aimed at protecting young riders who regularly pedal through busy streets in Netherlands while looking at their phone, developers said Wednesday June 21, 2017, they are developing a lock system to stop the dangerous practice by blocking the phone when cycling. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, FILE)

At first glance, amateur cycling junkies Jordan Picchiottino and Trent Whicker would appear to be twin brothers from different mothers. Both are 29 years old. Both just recently returned from competing in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in Varese, Italy, which is supposed to be the biggest amateur cycling race in the world. The two even are partners in Land and See Racing, which has a mission to help amateur cyclists reach their athletic goals.

But ask each man his thoughts about his world racing future after the 80-mile trek straight up and down a few of Italy's 7,000-foot mountains and their future objectives change dramatically.

"I trained for 11 months," said Picchiottino, who qualified for the Gran Fondo a year ago as a last-minute wild-card entry. "That's what it takes. But I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. It's not something that comes quickly. It's a long-term commitment. And a huge horror."

Countered Whicker, who qualified for the Gran Fondo for the first time: "I knew qualifying for the UCI World Championship was a goal Jordan had. Mine was just staying alive through my first racing season. I looked like and felt like hell for a week (after the race). It was stupid hard."

It may have been stupid hard, but both men accomplished their goals on a road course that Whicker colorfully described thusly: "The corners were gnarly and there were some cobblestones, too. Unlike Signal or Lookout there aren't plateaus. Just straight up and down, baby!"

Nevertheless, Picchiotino finished 41st in his age group in the 19-34 men's division, which caused him to write in an email: "I beat the goal I had for myself of being in the top 100 riders in the time trial as I placed 41st. Never did I dream I could break the top 50."

Whicker finished the road race 256th of 287 riders in his age division, then wrote: "This is my first year racing road bikes. I took my bike with me and only suffered one scratch and a broken cable on the way back. (Thanks, Delta.)"

Not that racing up and down mountains was the only thing the two did during their time in Italy. Unlike a year ago, Jordan's wife, Mandy, made the trip for this one. So did Trent's wife, Natasha.

"The best part about the trip other than the race was the location," Picchiottino said. "Northern Italy is so beautiful. The landscapes were breathtaking."

Said Whicker: "My favorite part was the food. No surprise there. I love porchetta sandwiches and ate a bunch of pasta."

They also both were thankful for understanding employers, co-workers and friends.

"I would like to thank so many people," Picchiottino said. "My wife, my teammates, my coach Bruno (Martins). I had a lot of co-workers chip in financially. I couldn't have afforded it otherwise. Also I really want to thank the sports medicine team at Erlanger for the treatment of my knee. I was off the bike for four weeks with knee injuries. They got me back at my best."

Whicker also wanted to thank his employer "for letting me take time off for the race."

Not surprisingly, given his result in the time trial, Picchiottino said his favorite moment "was when I crossed the finish line knowing I had given it everything."

Whicker seemed more interested in what he could bring back from Italy, noting that he returned to the States with "two pounds of Parmesan cheese, four pounds of Swiss chocolate and a snapped rear derailleur cable."

So will there be a return trip next year, when the UCI world championship moves to Poland?

"I doubt I will do (Poland)," Whicker said. "Perhaps do a qualifier someday in another country just to say I did!"

Said Picchiottino: "I want to win. If I never win, then I'll never stop."

Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com

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