October 2, 2006 - New rider and UCI Cross

Fiordifrutta Adds Jamey Driscoll to Cross Team

The squad is pleased to announce the signing of Vermont’s Jamey Driscoll to race cyclocross this fall. Driscoll is a 20 year old University of Vermont student who was the Junior National Cyclocross champion in 2003. He has successfully transitioned to the senior ranks and comes off a full road season where he continued to gain form throughout the year.

Timmerman 2nd at Vermont Cyclocross, September 23

Saturday’s race in Vermont was a warm-up for the next day’s UCI event, but Fiordifrutta riders did not hold back as both Jamie Driscoll and Dan Timmerman both led the race at times. Timmerman had a fantastic start which saw him ahead of the front group which contained Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), Adam Myerson (Nerac.com), and Jamie Driscoll. But the slippery conditions brought on by the morning rain were Timmerman’s downfall (literally) as multiple crashes meant for constant chasing. Soon it was Driscoll’s turn to take the lead until a snapped derailleur forced a long run to the pits.

Pro mountain biker Mathieu Toulouse (Team Maxxis) took advantage of the mishaps to take the win, followed by Timmerman. Driscoll ended up 6th, and Huseby and Peck also had good rides to finish 8th and 11th respectively.

Fiordifrutta’ers Lock-up UCI Points in Vermont, September 24

Sunday in Vermont turned into a sunny day that rapidly dried up most of Saturday’s mud. With eight team members taking the start, Fiordifrutta hoped to challenge some of the nation’s top cyclocrossers in one of the first UCI events of the season. Timmerman, White, and Driscoll had excellent starts while a dropped chain for Cody meant that he had to turn on the afterburners to make up lost ground.

Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld) and Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) dueled it out for the win, but our boys were not far behind. White, Driscoll, and Timmerman finished together for 5-7th, Cody was 11th and Peck squeezed into the top twenty for 19th.

Timmerman Wins Mid Atlantic Super Series #11 MTB Race, September 16

In a pause in racing between the end of the road season and the start of cross season Fiordifrutta sent former mountain bike specialist Dan Timmerman down to New Milford, PA to compete in the Endless Encounter XC VII mountain bike race, race # 11 in the Mid Atlantic Super Series.

Timmerman would be battling with riders from the TREK/VW team, the VISITPA.com MTB team, and the BEAR NAKED/CANNONDALE team on a course that was muddy and slippery from the recent rains. The start headed out and shortly went up a long dirt road climb where Timmerman was able to use his road fitness to shed most of the field.

By the top, the only two to survive the vicious slaughter were Mid-Atlantic Super Series leader Ray Adams (VISITPA.com) and Kyle Hammaker (TREK/VW) who sat in second in series points. The long climb soon turned into a rocky, wet, and technical trail and the duo soon took over the lead from Timmerman as he sat on the back of them.

For several laps he let the two specialists set the pace since his skills in the singletrack were a bit rusty. Soon both riders made critical mistakes, one ending up on his back in the mud, the other allowing a gap to open on a climb while he tried to straighten out his chain. This left Timmerman on his own for most of the second half of the race, which was a good thing according to the rider. "I was glad those two weren't around to see me in the singletrack during the second half of the race" said Timmerman "I might have quit, just out of embarrassment".

Apparently, the long road miles over the years had left his upper body weak and emaciated and it took every bit of energy his spindly arms could muster to hold the bike in a straight line and keep from careening off into the woods. Despite the fact that his back and right hand was cramped and tired, Timmerman was able to hold off the two mountain bikers to finish nearly four minutes ahead of Kyle Hammaker (TREK/VW). Ray Adams (VISITPA.com) was able to recover from his horrific crash to finish third and retain his lead in the series. The rest of the day was spent catching up with old friends drinking free beer while listening to live music in the endless mountains of PA.