Cyclocross: NECCS # 11 - Bay State Sterling
Kenda's Mary McConneloug and Cannondale's Jeremy Powers On Top at Bay State

Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
By Jeffrey Bramhall

Temperatures in the mid-40s with whipping winds greeted racers saturday in Sterling, Massachusetts for the eleventh round of the Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series. Some very impressive performances came from all sides, elite and amateur, men and women. Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes) dominated the elite women while Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com) was on top of the elite men.

Elite Women's Race
The women’s race shook out quickly with McConneloug, Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club), Rebecca Wellons (Team Plan C) and series leader Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing) off the front by the time they reached the horse jump only a third of a lap in.

A bottleneck in the set of turns following the horse jump helped to make the selection, allowing the four women in the front to create an insurmountable lead. From there on, it was a game of strength with McConneloug able to extend herself beyond her chasers.

Behind McConneloug, Smith responded following at a few seconds but could not close the gap before McConneloug claimed vicrtory. behind, Wellons and Bruno Roy pursued the lead duo, matched in strength the two put in a strong effort but could not catch Smith who ended up second. Coming into the finishing straight, Bruno Roy attempted to put some space between herself and Wellons but was unable to shake her. Wellons timed her sprint perfectly and came around for a podium finish. Despite her fourth place, Bruno Roy maintained her hold on the leader’s jersey going into the final week.

Elite Men & U23 Race
In the elite men, last-minute registrant Jeremy Powers took control of the race quickly, starting at the front of a group containing Adam Myerson (Cycle Smart), elite series leader Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix), and U-23 series leader Luke Keough.

A bobble by Keough in front of Myerson gave Powers and Timmerman the space they needed to make this a two-horse race. Behind them formed a strong and motivated chase group of Myerson, Josh Dillon (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix), Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF), Will Dugan (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix), Justin Spinelli (Svelte Cycles) and Mike Broderick (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes) at bay.

Powers and Timmerman held the chase at arm’s length for much of the race, despite a brutal headwind that stopped them both dead in their tracks at one point. Taking advantage of the wind, Lindine attacked his group and made contact with the two leaders. The catch was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd, but it was short-lived as Powers and Timmerman had no interest in a passenger on their train, pulling away before Lindine had a chance to recover.

In a similar fashion, Powers turned on his afterburners and very slowly rode Timmerman off his wheel, little by little, Timmerman found himself alone. Powers cruised home for yet another victory on his stellar season. Timmerman maintained his second through the finish with Lindine rounding out the podium. Jerome Townsend (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF) fought his way up and won a four-way sprint for fourth and the U-23 victory. Josh Dillon of Richard Sachs/RGM filled out the top 5 riders.

Masters
The Masters 35+ race was, once again, a battle between series leader Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) and the Corner Cycle duo of Johnny Bold and Kevin Hines. Today, they had company in the lead group in the person of Kurt Perham (bikeman.com/pbmcoaching.com) who took the holeshot, avoiding the bottleneck on the run-up and making the selection at the front.

Bold, Hines and Aspholm were able to ride tempo and away from the rest of the field, and shedding Perham. With two to go, Hines made a huge dig going into a technical set of corners with Bold on the front of the group. With his teammate unwilling to chase, he gained nearly ten seconds before Aspholm was able to counter the move. Once it came back together, Aspholm rode the group like a chess match. Coming onto the straightaway finish, Aspholm was able to hold off Bold for another series victory, with Bold in second and Hines third.

Junior Races:
The U-19 race showed, once again, the dominance of EMD Serono/Specialized racer Evan McNeely from Kingston, Ontario. Behind him, Jesse Keough (CL Noonan/KAM/Coast to Coast) and Joshua Lehmann (Sunapee) battled for the second and third steps of the podium. McNeely’s victory is his seventh in eight attempts in Verge races this season.

In the U-15 race, Peter Goguen (Minuteman Road Club) and Austin Vincent (CL Noonan/KAM/Coast to Coast) once again battled for the top. In what is proving to be one of the best competitions of the series, Goguen got the best of Vincent for the fourth time this season. Vincent, who had been a bit under the weather, managed to keep a hold on second place despite a hard rush from Joshua Anderson, who finished third in only the third bike race he’s ever entered.

Racing on Sunday begins at 8:30am with the Cat4 and Cat4 35+ race. Tom Stevens’s new course for the Sunday race is expected to add a number of new features and take even better advantage of the Chocksett Middle School grounds. It will be the last race before the decisive series finale next weekend in Warwick, Rhode Island.

The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be contested over 7 weekends in 2009, starting with the New England Cross-toberfest of Cycling: 3 straights weekends of UCI calendar racing to be held in Williston VT, Gloucester MA, and Providence RI. After a weekend of much needed rest, the series will continue with stops in New Gloucester ME on Oct 24, Northampton MA on Nov 7, Sterling MA on Nov 28, and the series finale in Warwick RI on Dec 5. This year series is generously supported by Verge Sport, makers of fine cycling clothing and products since 1993; by Cycle-Smart, purveyors of personalized cycling coaching and solutions for riders across the country; by BikeReg.com, the official online registration service of the NECCS; by Paul Weiss Photo/Video, the official photographer of the NECCS, by October Handmade Bicycles, and by Ryders Eyewear. You can visit these sponsors and get more information on the series by going to the web at http://www.cycle-smart.com/neccs

Bay State Cylco-Cross day1
UCI Elite/U23 Men
1 Jeremy Powers Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld 0:58:50
2 Justin Lindine BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:59:15
3 Dan Timmerman Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix 0:59:43
4 1 Jerome Townsend BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:59:52
5 Josh Dillon Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix 0:59:52
6 Adam Myerson Cycle-Smart 1:00:25
7 William Dugan Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix 1:00:30
8 2 Luke Keough Team Champion System 1:00:56
9 Dylan McNicholas CCB Racing 1:01:05
10 Peter Bradshaw Embrocation Cycling Journal 1:02:17
11 Brian Wilichoski CyclocrossWorld.com 1:02:39
12 Michael Broderick KENDA-Seven-NoTubes 1:03:08
13 Alec Donahue Cycle-Smart / NCC 1:03:28
14 Kevin Wolfson Bikereg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 1:03:28
15 David Wilcox Geekhouse Bikes / Boston Rock Gym 1:03:28
16 Damian Schmitt Sunnyside Sports 1:04:00
17 Adam Snyder Team Jamis 1:04:29
18 Pete Smith Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy 1:04:29
19 Colin Reuter International Bicycle/crossresults.com 1:04:42
20 John Burns Bikeman.com 1:04:50
21 Adam Sullivan Cycle-Smart / NCC 1:04:54
22 Chad Wells Hudz-Subaru 1:05:50
23 3 Manny Goguen Bikereg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 1:06:50
24 John Hanson IF/ Lionette's
25 Kevin Sweeney International Bicycle Center
26 Thierry Laliberte Xprezo
27 Pierre Vanden Borre Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy 2L
28 Ryan Kelly NorEast Cycling 3L
29 Joshua Friedman NYC Velo 3L
30 Jonathan Bruno IF/Lionette's Cycling Team 3L
DNF Michael Rea NorEast Cycling DNF

UCI Elite Women
1 Mary McConneloug KENDA-Seven-NoTubes 0:36:38
2 Maureen Bruno Roy MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles 0:37:07
3 Anna Barensfeld Minuteman Road Club 0:37:34
4 Ann D'Ambruoso Minuteman Road Club 0:37:34
5 Rebecca Wellons Team Plan C 0:37:56
6 Amanda Carey Kenda/Trainwitheric.com 0:39:01
7 Anna Milkowski BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:39:17
8 Rebecca Blatt US Army/ Central Wheel 0:39:17
9 Perri Mertens Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy 0:39:17
10 Arielli Filiberti Dartmouth College 0:31:29
11 Christina Tamilio Minuteman Road Club 0:39:38
12 Marilyn Ruseckas Seven Cycles 0:39:53
13 Emma Bast Cycle-Smart / NCC 0:40:00
14 Crystal Anthony Minuteman Road Club 0:40:08
15 Natalia Gardiol Cambridge Bicycle/ Igleheart Frames 0:40:19
16 Frances Morrison Cycle-Smart/NCC 0:40:19
17 Sally Annis Hub Racing 0:40:57
18 Clara Kelly NEBC/Devonshire Dental 0:41:21
19 Michelle Kersbergen Joe's Garage 0:41:56
20 Anna McLoon Harvard 0:42:08
21 Allison Snooks Minuteman Road Club 0:42:16
22 Andrea Smith Minuteman Road Club 0:42:24
23 Beth Mason Verge Test Pilot 0:42:50

Juniors 15-18 15 starters
Place First Name Last Name Team Time
1 Evan McNeely EMD Serono / Specialized 0:41:45
2 Jesse Keough CL Noonan 0:43:18
3 Joshua Lehman Sunapee 0:43:18
4 Nate Morse CLIF BAR DevelopMt Cyclocross Team 0:43:18
5 Kiernan Orange Ride with Rendall 0:43:56
6 Paul Lynch CL Noonan 0:44:09
7 Stuart Wight HotTubes 0:44:55
8 Ryan Packard QuadCycles Junior Team 0:45:34
9 Oliver Hiller CL Noonan 0:46:28
10 Curtis White CLIF BAR DevelopMt Cyclocross Team 0:46:57

Juniors 10-14 18 starters
1 Peter Goguen Minuteman Road Club 0:23:36
2 Austin Vincent CLNoonan/KAM/Coast to Coast 0:24:27
3 Nicolas Catlin My Way 0:25:33
4 Cooper Willsey Whites Bikes/GMBC/Catamount 0:25:45
5 Jonathan Anderson 0:26:06
6 Joseph Toth Capital Bicycle Racing Club 0:27:15
7 Ian Keough CLNoonan/KAM/Coast to Coast 0:27:30
8 Joshua Anderson 0:27:37
9 Victoria Gates NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:29:43
10 Gus Grosenbaugh Corner Cycle 0:32:14

Cat 3 Men 62 starters Time
1 James Morrison Embrocation Cycling Journal 0:43:53
2 Jeremy Durrin CycleSmart/NCC 0:43:53
3 Michael Wissell Back Bay Bicycles 0:44:25
4 Collin Huston CL Noonan/Coast to Coast/KAM 0:44:25
5 Colin Rowan Corner Cycle 0:44:25
6 Evan Huff Cycle Smart / NCC 0:44:35
7 William Kenney bikebarnracing.com 0:44:35
8 Stephen Pierce King Kog 0:44:56
9 Nicholas Mashburn Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames 0:44:59
10 Tim Janson RPI Cycling 0:44:59

Cat 3/4 Women 
1 Catherine Sterling 0:25:11
2 Emma White CBRC/Capital Bicycle Racing Club 0:26:00
3 Danielle Runne Sunape 0:26:15
4 Mélissa Houde Club Sportif Bromont 0:26:25
5 Christine Fort QuadCycles 0:26:25
6 Nancy Labbe-Giguere Quad Cycles p/b NIBRCC 0:26:46
7 Elizabeth White NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:26:46
8 Sally McInnis JRA Cycles 0:26:51
9 Emily Curley Gearworks/Spinarts 0:27:02
10 Rebecca Lowe 0:27:13

Cat 4 Men
1 Donny Green team makeout party (Dash bikes/Circle A Cycles) Time
2 Richard Bardwell CLR 0:23:51
3 1 George Lowe 0:24:00
4 2 Jorge Martinez Boston Triathlon Team 0:24:12
5 Tristan Ostronic Central Wheel/Greater Hartford Cycling Club 0:24:12
6 3 Charlie Schubert Bikes Not Bombs 0:24:12
7 Kent Hirshberg spooky/dedham bike 0:24:30
8 Joe Phenix Bikeworks/hallamore 0:24:42
9 4 Dan Sirois Joe's Garage 0:24:42
10 5 Kevin Brant 0:24:47

Cat 1-3 Masters 35+ 60 starters
1 301 Jonny Bold Corner Cycle 0:41:14
2 367 Roger Aspholm Westwood Velo/Trade Manage Capital 0:41:25
3 302 Kevin Hines Corner Cycle 0:41:25
4 312 Mark McCormack Team FUJI/Clif Bar 0:42:13
5 307 Bill Shattuck bikebarnracing.com 0:42:13
6 313 Todd Bowden CVC Subaru of New England 0:42:13
7 305 Steve Proulx Stevens Racing 0:42:13
8 303 Curtis Boivin Planet Bike 0:42:13
9 306 Kurt Perham bikeman.com/PBMcoaching.com 0:42:13
10 308 Ryan Rumsey Bikeman.com 0:42:28
11 304 Rob Hult Gear Works Spin Arts 0:42:45
12 310 Alan Starrett Bikeman.com 0:42:45
13 316 Aaron Millett ECV 0:42:54
14 336 Jeff Molongoski Joe's Garage 0:42:54
15 314 Dan Staffo Handlebars cycling company 0:43:17

Masters 45+
1 902 John Mosher Team Wheel Works 0:43:58
2 901 Mark Gunsalus Team FUJI Clif Bar 0:43:58
3 906 John Funk Bikereg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:44:27
4 967 Sam Morse Corner Cycle 0:44:30
5 942 Erich Gutbier CCC Keltic Const/Zanes Cycles 0:45:06
6 918 Geoffrey House Housatonic Wheel Club 0:45:06
7 911 Mitchell Medeiros scottee's westport bicycle 0:45:39
8 908 Robert Orange Ride with Rendall 0:45:39
9 910 Paul Curley Gearworks/Spinarts 0:45:44
10 904 Bob Bisson Gear Works/Spin Arts 0:46:00
11 966 Chris Borello Gear Works/Spin Arts 0:46:00
12 925 M. Andrew Ruiz CCC/Keltic Construction 0:46:00
13 924 John Grenier Team Fuji fueled by Clif Bar 0:46:00
14 912 Kevin Callahan Bicycle Link/MBRC 0:46:29
15 905 Paul Nyberg Horst-Benidorm-Property Research Corp. 0:46:29

Masters 55+ 25 starters
1 700 William Sawyer Gearworks - Spinarts 0:47:41
2 673 Robert Desforges Sherbrooke 0:47:59
3 675 Phil Bannister Putney/West hill 0:48:51
4 694 Gary Passler Essex County Velo (ECV) /Trifit Training 0:48:55
5 699 David Goodwin Northampton Cycling Club 0:49:00
6 672 Dusty Adams MosiacSmalti.com 0:49:19
7 697 Barry Doubleday Mass Bay Road Club 0:49:19
8 695 David Rath Corner Cycle 0:49:50
9 698 Richard Sachs RGM WATCHES - RICHARD SACHS - RADIX 0:49:50
10 696 Dave Beals NYCROSS.COM / VO Max / CBRC 0:50:11
11 676 Guy Marcotte C.C. Sherbrooke 0:50:55
12 686 Gary Musgrove Bikebarnracing.com 0:51:09
13 687 Jerry White Naults Cyclery/naults.com
14 680 Michael McCusker Northampton Cycling Club
15 688 Mark Godin Cyclocrossworld

Cat 4 Masters 35+ 
1 480 Brian Quigley Colavita Racing Inc. 0:24:14
2 448 Matt Williams Circle 69 Racing 0:24:14
3 455 Gregory Zysk Svelte Cycles 0:24:22
4 492 Jesse Smith Fort Rock'N'Rollas 0:24:45
5 459 James Paterson 0:24:45
6 488 John Smith Minuteman Road Club 0:24:50
7 476 Richard Tobin union velo 0:24:50
8 487 Chris Pare Minuteman Road Club 0:24:50
9 497 Michael Brier Refunds Now 0:24:50
10 500 John McGrath NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:25:11
11 474 Scott Sweeney Minuteman Road Club 0:25:13
12 449 Andre Bessette Quinebug Valley Velo 0:25:17
13 483 John Plump Minuteman Road Club 0:25:17
14 473 Ron Hines QuadCycles 0:25:17
15 453 Michael Zimicki Super Relay 0:25:17

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