New to the big time 'cross scene this year, Velo Bella-Kona's Dee Dee Winfield has surprised everyone including herself with several UCI wins and even more podium finishes. How did this mom to 17-month-old daughter, Cadence, become one the top 'crossers in the country in such a short time? Cyclingnews diarist Barbara Howe explores the short history of this talented racer.
Perhaps it's the long miles logged in the past on epic bike adventures such as riding from Maine to Georgia and Charleston, SC to San Diego, or perhaps it's her strong work ethic and total commitment to the sport - either way Deidre Winfield, a.k.a. Dee Dee, has quickly moved to the top of the 'cross game.
Winfield's past isn't just filled with athletic exploits - her love of sport also translated to a Master's degree in Exercise physiology which she earned at the University of South Carolina. But her stay in Columbia during grad school was partly responsible for her love of cycling. In South Carolina, she never felt quite at home - the state just didn't click for her, so, missing her native Virginia and the miles of hilly country roads that just beg to be ridden, she sought solace by working in a bike shop.
