The 2009 US cross scene has been dominated by the usual names, Johnson, Powers, Page, Trebon, etc. However, the Northeast has seen the rise of some new talent, most notably, Dan Timmerman. After launching out of the gate with two UCI wins, Timmerman has continued his success with a few more victories and a variety of podium appearances. As a result, Timmerman is in a prime position to capture the Verge NECCS Title and is in the conversation as a podium contender at the US National Championships later this year. Right now, he’s focused on riding his bike, have some fun, and enjoying life in upstate New York. After talking to him, it’s hard to believe that he’s 29th in the UCI World Rankings right now (7th among Americans). He did however take some time out to answer a few questions as we try to figure out why the Richard Sachs rider is doing so well.

How did you get into bike racing and cyclocross?

My older brother Matt got me into mountain biking in upstate New York back in ‘93. I was 13 and got lost in my first race. I raced the MTB till around 2000. I had made it to semi-pro and had some local/regional success in the state and in the New England trail 66 series. My brother had become a pro DHer. I was influenced to try road racing from my buddy Mike Jones, who, at the time was on his way to a successful road career. At first the road thing didn’t work out for me. I kinda sucked and quit bike racing for a while. Working sucked so I took off and lived on my bike for a while, riding all over the country. That got me in shape and I came back racing cross locally on a MTB. Tried it on the road again and was successful this time. I got a ride on Fiordifrutta elite amatuer team. It took me a while, but by my second year road racing on the squad I convinced them to let me race cross with them in ‘06. That would be my first “real” cross season. It went really well, but then I got a job on Kodak/Sierra Nevada pro cycling team for the road. I raced cross locally as an afterthought in ‘07, raced with Steve Bauer’s Team Race Pro in ‘08 and retired from road racing at the end of the year. Focused on cross from there and had a great season in ‘08, which, after three years of talking finally got me a spot on Richard’s team for this year.

In 2007 you raced on the road (for Kodak/Sierra Nevada) with Ryan Trebon and Jesse Anthony, did you guys talk about cross or was it all about the road?

Well, first of all, we saw Ryan for like an hour at team camp and then one race that year, the US Open in Richmond which happened to be very cross like. It was cold, wet, and snowing. Nobody was happy. Especially not Ryan. Jesse and I, however raced alot together that year. Yeah, sure we talked about cross, but probably not that much. We were probably too busy goofing around with Dietrich, that is Mike Dietrich, who later would become the best cross heckler I’ve even seen.

Do you have a “real job”? What is it?

No. Those things really get in the way of what is important. I put in some hours at a bike shop here in Ithaca that I will probably take as my own someday, but I really can’t imagine it being anything like a “real job”.

Last year you only landed on the podium a handful of times. What changed this year that has allowed you to race so well?

Actually, I think the only times I was on the podium last year was when they had a spot for 4th. I was 4th alot. Probably a few things changed this year. My road season was much different. Last year I raced alot, this year not much. That could be viewed as a positive or a negative. It took me forever to get back in shape, but now that I have, every race I seem to improve in fitness instead of floating on road fitness that would eventually dwindle away….and then there is the team….I was on my own last year. This year I’m on Richie’s program. He’s the man, my teamates are great pals, the team is well supported by great people, and the bikes, I love the bikes. I know this is exactly what I’m like supposed to say and all, but I honestly feel these are the best bikes I could be on. Maybe that has something to do with it in itself.

You won your first two races of the season and then headed to Gloucester where you had your worst result of the season on Day 1 (20th). Did you feel the pressure of wearing the NECCS Leaders Jersey or was it just a bad day?

No pressure. I’ve been pretty lucky in my time racing cross. Both seasons I raced a UCI season, on a cross bike, were very dry. So I have never really exceled in the mud and I think that was what went wrong at Gloucester. Mud shock. This year has been great for that though! Every weekend is another slog through the mud and it has helped me improve a ton.

What were your goals at the begging of this year? Have they changed?

I was really worried coming into the season. As I said I didn’t race on the road much and had trouble getting fit again. I didn’t think I was going to have it together by the time the cross races started in September when the original goal was to come into the year ahead of my fitness from last cross season. After all the 4ths last year, I wanted to move up onto the podium. Sure my goals have changed. It is, of course, a goal to keep the NECCS leader’s jersey. I would also like to be more competitive with the fastest guys. There are the guys like Tim, Jeremy, Jamey, and Ryan who run away with wins wherever they are. I would really like to make more of a race with them.

Any plans to head to Europe this year?

Not that I know of.

Why the change to Richard Sachs’ Team this year? How has that worked out?

I’ve been “in talks” with Richard for three years now. When he contacted me and said it could finally work out I was all over it. As you may have already gotten from me, it’s working out great. I am very happy here.

You’re on track to win the NECCS, if you do you’ll join guys like Gullickson, McCormack, Johnson, Anthony, and Driscoll. What do you think about that?

I think I need a XXS……but I’m honestly proud to be wearing the jersey.

When I first asked Richard Sachs about you, all he mentioned was the beard. What’s up with that? Is that your secret to success?

Great. Just great. The UCI is going to ban it now.

It just sort of happened. No conscious effort required. The less you do, the more it does, which seems to be the case with it’s life in the cross circles too. But seriously, no joke here. Judge me and I’d most likely fit the stereotype.

Now for the “six-pack” of tough questions:

Is steel real?

Well if a real job is real then no, it’s actually fake.

Favorite beer?

Ithaca Beer Company’s Cascazilla, although they have a seasonal called cold front right now that I’m really enjoying.

Favorite cross race?

I am much too indecisive to pick favorites. VT and Northampton stick out as fun courses though.

Favorite food?

Bread

What’s on your iPod right now?

I found a Heart cassette in a free box last week.

Will you be my Facebook friend?

Send me a letter

We thank Dan for his time and wish him good luck in the last half of the cross season. In case you want to see Dan in person, the New England series continues this weekend in Northampton, MA, and if we had to guess he’ll be back in the mid-Atlantic for the Mercer Cup in a couple of weeks. Perhaps we’ll grab another interview with Dan after his season wraps up in December.