by David Mable
Fred Wittwer looking fresh at the 2017 Cyclocross National Championship Masters Men 65-69 race. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Rains from Tuesday left the Riverside Park cyclocross course a muddy mess, which was churned into peanut-buttery mud by the collegiate races on Wednesday morning. Fred Wittwer from Charlottesville, VA enjoyed a clean bike every half lap to keep moving and take the victory in the 65-69 age group.
The climbs were rough and the bikes heavy with mud according to George Pawle, who would finish in second place for the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 65-69 race. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Robert Dillon had a good race and would finish the day in third out of 31 competitors for the Masters Men 65-69 race at the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships . © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
“This is the first mud I’ve had all season,” said Wittwer. “I’m from the mid-Atlantic region, and we’ve had maybe one race where we’ve had mud, so I was pretty nervous about this. The key was just racing your own rhythm, not racing other athletes, just riding the course and staying within yourself.”
George Pawle leads Fred Wittwer during the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 65-69. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
That strategy paid off as George Paul, who took an early lead, faded in the heavy mud.
Wittwer took the lead from Pawle and would finish 51 seconds ahead at the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 65-69 race. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
“I’m telling you, that was next to death out there.” said Paul. “That was so heavy. So hard. You can’t pick up the bike it’s so heavy with mud. Trying to go up that hill? Oh man, that was just so hard.”
Fred Wittwer from Charlottesville, VA is the 2017 Cyclocross National Champion for the Masters Men 65-69 category. © David Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 2 Results Masters Men 65-69
| Place | Bib | Last | First | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 455 | WITTWER | Fred | Charm City Cycling LLC | 34:41:00 | |
| 2 | 448 | PAWLE | George | Cyclonauts Racers | 35:32:00 | 51 |
| 3 | 436 | DILLON | Robert | BMB Racing | 36:16:00 | 1:35 |
| 4 | 456 | YANCEY | Larry | Lakeway TX | 39:43:00 | 5:02 |
| 5 | 426 | ABBOTT | Steve | Willington CT | 40:37:00 | 5:56 |
| 6 | 452 | WALTON | Craig | BCA/Linen | 41:24:00 | 6:43 |
| 7 | 427 | BANNISTER | Phillip | Putney/West Hill | 41:29:00 | 6:48 |
| 8 | 447 | PARKER | Harold | 360 Racing | 41:40:00 | 6:59 |
| 9 | 441 | LEONARD | Timothy | Team NYCROSS.com | 41:47:00 | 7:06 |
| 10 | 428 | BEALS | David | nycross.com | 42:03:00 | 7:22 |
| 11 | 435 | DIBIASI | Nunzio | Deluxx Bicycles | 43:02:00 | 8:21 |
| 12 | 446 | OLIVER | Bruce | National Capital Velo Club/Unit | 44:27:00 | 9:46 |
| 13 | 444 | MORRISON | Donald | Coatesville PA | 44:29:00 | 9:48 |
| 14 | 445 | OGREN | Robert | Power Fix CX | 45:15:00 | 10:34 |
| 15 | 442 | LINDEN | David | Team Dayton Bicycling | 45:23:00 | 10:42 |
| 16 | 432 | BUTLER | Kim | Wheeling WV | 45:42:00 | 11:01 |
| 17 | 430 | BROWN | Carl | CCB | 45:45:00 | 11:04 |
| 18 | 450 | SHIELDS | Kerry | Hearts Racing Club | 46:09:00 | 11:28 |
| 19 | 443 | MORIARTY | Christopher | US Military Endurance Sports | 37:30:00 | @1Lap |
| 20 | 434 | D'ANIELLO | Guy | Laurel Bicycle Club | 38:38:00 | @1Lap |
| 21 | 433 | CARLSON | James | Potomac Velo Club | 39:43:00 | @1Lap |
| 22 | 453 | WELLINGS | Norman | Oskaloosa IA | 40:35:00 | @1Lap |
| 23 | 451 | THEMIG | James | Mystic Velo Club | 40:53:00 | @1Lap |
| 24 | 457 | FINCH | Peter | Clinton CT | 41:05:00 | @1Lap |
| 25 | 439 | KING | Steven | Exeter RI | 43:47:00 | @1Lap |
| 26 | 449 | SEGAL | Myron | Arrow Bicycle | 49:42:00 | @1Lap |
| 27 | 431 | BURWELL | Curtiss | Laurel Bicycle Club | 58:40:00 | @1Lap |
| DNS | 440 | KNIGHT | Stephen | Constellation Cycling | ||
| DNS | 429 | BOOTH | Rit | Hampshire Cycle Club | ||
| DNS | 438 | GENEST | David | HOUSE INDUSTRIES - WITHINGS - S | ||
| DNS | 454 | WIGMORE | Frank | Guys Racing Club |
