October 26, 2006 - Podiums and Mullets

Dan Timmerman writes some amusing race reports from the UCI races in Delaware, while Josh Dillon and Chris Peck have been busy with podium finishes at local New England races. Dillon picked up a first and second at the Catamount Cross Weekend up in snowy Vermont, while Peck cashed in for a pair of second place results at the Thread City Cyclocross and Southington Cyclocross races in CT.

Granogue Cyclocross UCI C1, October 21

Matt White, Jamey Driscoll, and Dan Timmerman kicked off the VERGE Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross series down in Wilmington, DE. The team was off to a great start on lap one with Matt White riding in the top five, Timmerman in 6th or 7th, and Driscoll right behind. Soon Whitey fell apart and went back to battle it out with the masters, which left Timmerman alone up front

As the race went on he settled into a comfortable pace riding with Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) thinking there was not much threat from behind. However, the other Timmerman (Jon Hamblen) was lurking in the distance. Since the two cannot occupy the same space at the same time or else the laws of physics will break down and spiral into utter chaos, I had to let him go by for 10th place.

In a furious, elbow throwing, head butting sprint Matt White would beat out master’s racer Roger Aspholm for 14th. Behind a demoralized Jamey Driscoll suffered through endless taunts from the crowd about how Tom Zirbel's mullet is much better than his. All in all, it was a good day of racing.

Wissahickon Cyclocross UCI C2, October 22

Day two of the Fiordifrutta's Mid-Atlantic race weekend started even better than the first at Wissahickon Cyclocros. White, Jamey Driscoll, and Dan Timmerman lined up on the start line, but something was way, way off. Instead of being lined up next to Driscoll in the second row, Timmerman was lined up on the front row due to his increase in UCI points.

However, being the last rider called to the front line, he was left with the scraps which consisted of a piece of dirt with a big hole in it off to the side of the nice pavement that the rest of the field sat on. Despite his compromising position, Timmerman's excitement of finally starting front row overcame the impossible and took the holeshot and would come through 3rd after completing the first lap.

Behind, Whitey made a hard effort and bridged the gap to Timmerman so that the two teammates could work together and distance themselves from the pack behind. Timmerman2 (Jon Hamblen) must have been secretly hiding in the bushes with tacks because at that moment Timmerman's front wheel went flat, leaving Matt White alone.

By the time Timmerman made it around to pick up his spare bike, wait, I mean change out his wheel, he had lost at least 25 spots. Matt White, despite being left to fend for himself, would hold on for sixth as Timmerman battled back for 15th. After receiving a public bashing on Cyclingnews.com the night before for his mullet, Jamey Driscoll stopped and let the air out of his tire so that he could keep a low profile and stay out of the media, however, still finishing 16th place.