Today the Short Track Mountain Bike race took place in the home turf of many of the WDCC staffers- California School for the Deaf in Fremont, CA. It is a criterium where riders do multiple laps on a short dirt course for 45 minutes.

The race around the campus at California School for the Deaf (Fremont, CA) tested the Deaf cyclists’ power and agility with swift turns on a short track course. Many of the cyclists on the swift turns whizzed by the tape all around the course without veering through or breaking the tape set around.

Where it was as smooth as a newly paved road at the Hellyer Velodrome, the dirt course was a little rocky at CSDF, and that was a change of scenery for the fans. As the pros the cyclists were, people couldn’t really tell the difference because the elite cyclists ride in a fluid manner. It wouldn’t be their sport if they couldn’t, considering that the turns are sharper than the Velodrome track.

The cyclists all exhibited fierceness in navigating around the short track, their faces tightly gritting, eyes darting low with intense concentration. It looked like they were strung on a rope around the course.

The swimmer-turned cyclist Terence Parkin of South Africa took 2nd place edging Wayne Langbein of USA, who also excelled in track and field with the shot putt and the hammer throw before he switched to cycling.

A smiling Italian Luigi Cucco took the honors by taking first place, but not before he threw back his head to shake off all the sweat he worked for to win the race by a good distance.

The South African Parkin only recently joined cycling, played it smart by cruising around while the mad dash for first place took place. Cucco also followed suit but prevailed due to his experience.

Signed Cucco in Italian Sign Language, “I worked through each lap to gain ground. The other short tracks I have trained at in Italy are steeper.”

The three finishers stood up on the winner’s platform smiling, standing victoriously, and they all interacted with jovial banter, with great sportsmanship and respect for each other. Cucco, after having the Gold medal put around his neck, raised his long arms joyously earning his win.

Cucco introduced one of the Italian racers, the lone female racer in the event into the platform saying “This is the love of my life. We are sweethearts,” his eyes sparkling. Loved ones do share in the victory of their kin, as Paul Wood had his young son to share the champion’s platform with him in the first race; Cucco followed suit with his Italian girlfriend on this winner’s platform
this time.

Wood and Cucco are true champions. We will stand side by side with a winner anytime.

<Click here for 2006 WDCC Results
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WATCH VIDEO: WDCC ‘06: Short Track Mountain Bike