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Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs) and Mo Bruno-Roy (MM Racing/Seven) double up at the Verge series' Maine weekend.

Published: Oct. 26, 2009

The sun shone down on the Verge NECCS Sunday in New Gloucester, Maine, but the mud hung like a black cloud over the head of many racers. Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) and Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix), on the other hand, had great days in the saddle, each doubling up on the weekend and extending their series leads.

Bruno-Roy kept herself upright through the start of the race, but that was the only change from Saturday as she dominated from the gun to the finish. On the first half lap, she had pushed out a 12-second lead and never looked back.

Behind the surging Bruno-Roy was a chase group much like on the day before with Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes), Natasha Elliott (Garneau/Club Chaussures/Ogilvy), Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club) and Amanda Carey (Kenda/trainwitheric.com). On the second-to-last lap, the gaps among the chasers began to open with McConneloug and Elliott securing the second and third steps of the podium, leaving Smith and Carey behind for fourth and fifth, respectively.

Timmerman fights back

The elite men began with a flurry of surprises, not the least of which was the early attack of Kirt Fitzpatrick of team Sexual Camel. Taking advantage of a pileup on a muddy downhill, Fitzpatrick attacked, leaving the field in his wake. With four to go, he held a lead of ten seconds on a group of Mike Broderick (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes), Luke Keough (Team Champion Systems), Gavin Mannion (Hot Tubes Junior Development Team) and Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF).

It was not to be as a resurgent Dan Timmerman came through the chase group, followed by a red-hot Derrick St John (Garneau/Club Chaussures/Ogilvy).

The attacks caused a reshuffling at the top with Lindine taking the lead and opening a gap on Timmerman of nearly thirty seconds. With three to go, Mannion had been pushed off the back of his chase group as St John rode through the competition with a vengeance. St John had moved into third place on the road when he fell victim to one of the many broken derailleurs on the day with only half a lap to go, he managed to slog through on foot and hold on for eighth. Lindine seemed to be in control, coming through the pit but Timmerman found another gear and threw down, catching Lindine in the woods halfway through the bell lap.

When the two came to the pavement, Timmerman led with Lindine glued to his wheel, poised to come around. Dan Timmerman once again set a pace that could not be matched and Lindine settled for a strong second. Shortly behind, Mannion pulled some late-race heroics as well, recatching Luke Keough and holding him at bay for third and victory in the U-23 field. Another Sachs rider, Josh Dillion, who had for a second day mashed his way through the field, ran out of time finishing fifth in front of the surprise of the day, Kirt Fitzpatrick. Keough’s fourth place pushed him past the absent Tim Johnson into second overall in the elite series, while holding onto his U-23 leader’s jersey.

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