According to his doctor, Jonathan Page (Morgan Blue) should just be getting back into racing, his surgically repaired shoulder finally ready for real efforts. Instead, following his own recovery schedule, the three-time U.S. cyclo-cross champion scored an impressive second place at Friday’s Nordzeecross, a UCI Cat 2 race in Middelekerke, Belgium.

Page finished 12 seconds behind race winner Bart Wellens (Fidea) a day after withdrawing from the brutal Azencross stop of the GVA Series because of two near-crashes.

"I hope it’s just the start of more to come," said Page from his home in Oudenarde, Belgium. "I feel pretty good about [the race at Middelkerke], but at this point I take every day as it comes and try not to get too far ahead of myself."

Bitterly disappointed by not winning the U.S. cyclo-cross nationals on December 16, despite it being his first race back from major shoulder surgery, Page has hit the European circuit with a sense of purpose, finishing ninth in Wachtebeke and 17th at the World Cup in Hofstade.

Despite poor starting position due to a lack of accumulated UCI points, Page moved into the top 20 in Thursday’s Azencross in Louenhout, Belgium, before two slip-ups on the sodden course sent a scare into the New Hampshire native.

"I bounced off a wooden stake and into the crowd," said Page. "I tweaked the shoulder enough that it hurt and then I decided it wasn’t worth it to continue."

The strategy paid dividends on Friday as Page made the race-winning split with Wellens. Wellens dashed of for a solo win on the seaside course while Page outfoxed his three Italian breakaway mates in the final quarter lap. Still recovering from illness, U.S. national champ Ryan Trebon (Kona) finished 12th with fellow American Erik Tonkin (Kona) rolling across in 24th.

Nordzeecross
Middelkerke, Belgium
Elite men
1. Bart Wellens (B), 57:15
2. Jonathan Page (USA), at 0:12
3. Enrico Franzoi (I), same time
4. Marco Fontana (I), s.t.
5. Marco Bianco (I), s.t.
6. Maxime Lefebvre (F), at 0:56
7. Alexandre Moos (Swi), at 1:03
8. Davy Commeyne, at 1:05
9. David Willemsens, at 1:26
10. Cyrille Bonnand (F), at 1:49