Verge NECCS # 14 - NBX Grand Prix of Cross Day 2
Elite's McConneloug and Timmerman Sweep NBX Weekend  & New England Series Championships  - Series Champions: Luke Keough, Johnny Bold, Jesse Keough, Peter Goguen,  Masters: Gunsalus, Sawyer, & McCormack...

 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
NBX Grand Prix of Cross  # 14 - Grand Finale

By Jeff Bramhall

The 2009 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series wrapped up today with outstanding performances from series winners Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes) and Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix). Dry skies with bright sunshine, temperatures in the high-30s and a soft breeze in off the bay were ideal conditions for this classic season ending race. In contrast to yesterday’s course, today racers met the beach twice, once at the beginning of a run-up. Also reintroduced from last year was a section of course affectionately known as “the gut” which is a series of 180-degree turns with soft, sandy corners and plenty of roots.

Elite Women
The Elite women’s race broke up quickly from the gun, with a two person lead group of Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club) and Mary McConneloug. Behind them were Laura Van Gilder (C3 Athletes Serving Athletes), Anna Barensfeld (Minuteman Road Club) and Gesa Bruechmann (Stevens Racing). While Smith and McConneloug were matching each other move for move, Van Gilder shed Barensfeld who, in turn, shed Bruechmann. It was not until the final lap that McConneloug was able to make a decisive move on Smith, opening a gap just large enough to cruise through the finish line and relish her sixth consecutive victory.

With her victory, Mary McConneloug took the overall series victory for the first time since 2004. Smith’s second place gave her a final series placing of third, behind the absent Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing). Also absent was Natasha Elliott (Garneau/Club Chaussure/Ogilvy) whose great early season gave her fourth overall. Fifth in the series and eleventh today was Amanda Carey (Kenda/trainwitheric.com).

Elite Men
The Elite men saw a flurry of power right out of the gate, once again, from Adam Myerson (Cycle Smart). With him in the select group at the front were Dan Timmerman, Josh Dillon (Richard Sachs/RGM/Radix) and Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF). The four opened a gap from the very beginning that the race was about them and nobody else.

Each rider made attack after attack with no gain at all, never getting more than a few bike lengths apart until, as he has done all season long, Timmerman attacked out of a corner and broke it clear. Myerson attempted to make a bridge but, realizing the futility, sat back, hoping to win in the sprint for second. On the final corner before the pavement, Dillon came through on the best line, carrying the most speed and beat Myerson to the line by a bike length with Lindine in fourth.

Despite having it all wrapped up last Sunday, Timmerman’s victory today caps a dominant season where he won six races and was on the podium in three more. Dillon’s second today matches his second in the series. Justin Lindine’s fantastic season netted him third with Luke Keough of Team Champion System fourth and Jerome Townsend (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF) fifth.

U23 - Luke Keough
U-23 leader Luke Keough finished sixth in today’s race and took the honors as the U-23 series champion. Second place went to Jerome Townsend, third to Townsend’s teammate Manny Goguen.

Masters Races
The Masters 35+ race was a new kind of tactical match up. The race started according to plan, Johnny Bold and Kevin Hines from Corner Cycle at the front with Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) and Mark McCormack (Team Fuji/Clif Bar). In a change from previous races, it seemed like Aspholm was struggling to match the pace set and was hanging on by a string even from the second lap.

As the race wore on and the gap began to grow, Bold, the series leader by the narrowest of margins, saw Aspholm’s struggles and dialed his effort back. With Aspholm struggling and Bold racing conservatively, McCormack and Hines were able to duel for the win, with McCormack crossing the line first.

His third place finish today was good enough for Johnny Bold to take home the series title for the sixth consecutive year. Aspholm’s second overall is his career-best. Kevin Hines, ever the faithful teammate, came in third.

Junior Men
The U-19 Juniors race was, for the ninth time this year, utterly dominated by Evan McNeely (EMD Serono/Specialized). Second place went to McNeely’s teammate, Karl Hoppner with Curtis White (Clif Bar Development Cyclocross Team) third.

Jesse Keough (CL Noonan/KAM/Coast to Coast) needed only to finish in the top ten today to bring home the U-19 Series title. He managed seventh. McNeely ended up second overall with Sunapee/S&W/Continental Paving racer Joshua Lehmann third.

U15
Peter Goguen (Minuteman Road Club) took advantage of Austin Vincent (CL Noonan/KAM/Coast to Coast)’s absence by running away with today’s race. Nicholas Catlin of Tokeneke Road Club pulled down another second place. Jonathan Anderson closed out a solid season with a third place.

Goguen’s four-race win streak over the past two weekends clinched him the U-15 Series. Austin Vincent managed to hold on to second despite a sickness that dogged him for the last two weeks of the season. Cooper Willsey (GMBC/Catamount/White’s Bikes) earned third place overall.

Masters 45 +
Mark Gunsalus (Team Fuji/Clif Bar) rode well enough to take another victory in the 45+ race ahead of Sam Morse (Corner Cycle) and John Funk (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF). Gunsalus’s victory gave him the series title with Morse, again, in second. Third in the series went to John Mosher of Wheelworks.

Masters 55+
William Sawyer (Gearworks/Spinarts) won his eighth series race today in the 55+. Cyclonauts racer George Pawle came through second with Northampton Cycling Club’s David Goodwin beating out Richard Sachs for third. Sawyer’s win was icing on his already clinched series title. Goodwin finished second in the series ahead of Barry Doubleday (MBRC/Bicycle Link)

Cat. 3
Finally, the category 3’s, for a second consecutive day, Colin H. Murphy of Cycle Smart/NCC took the victory. Embrocation Cycling Journal’s Cary Fridrich outsprinted Mike Wissell (Back Bay Bicycles/Espresso Royale Café) for second. Colin Huston (CL Noonan/KAM/Coast to Coast) took the series win with Fridrich in second. Evan Huff (Cycle Smart/NCC) placed third in the series.

The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series was 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 continued 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’s series has been 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

UCI Elite Women
1 Mary McConneloug KENDA-Seven-NoTubes 0:42:43
2 Andrea Smith Minuteman Road Club 0:42:52
3 Laura Van Gilder C3 Athletes Serving Athletes 0:44:04
4 Anna Barensfeld Minuteman Road Club 0:44:17
5 Gesa Bruechmann Stevens Racing Team 0:44:55
6 Anna Milkowski BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:45:04
7 Linnea Koons October Factory Racing 0:45:09
8 Ann D'Ambruoso Minuteman Road Club 0:45:31
9 Sally Annis Hub Racing 0:45:53
10 Rebecca BLATT US Army/ Central Wheel 0:45:53
11 Amanda Carey Kenda/Trainwitheric.com 0:46:03
12 Christina Tamilio Minuteman Road Club 0:46:07
13 Perri Mertens Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy 0:46:11
14 Crystal Anthony Minuteman Road Club 0:46:50
15 Emma Bast Cycle-Smart / NCC 0:47:01
16 Frances Morrison Cycle-Smart/NCC 0:47:01
17 Natalia Gardiol Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames 0:48:20
18 Bryna Nestor Anthem Sports 0:48:25
19 Sara Cushman Gearworks/Spinarts 0:48:36
20 Emily Curry Joe's Garage 0:49:06
21 Lesley Chown Handlebars CC 0:51:10
22 Allison Snooks Minuteman Road Club 0:51:57

Elite Women's Overall Series
1 Mary Mcconneloug Kenda-Seven-Notubes
2 Maureen Bruno Roy MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles
3 Andrea Smith Minuteman Roadclub
4 Natasha Elliott Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy
5 Amanda Carey Kenda/Trainwitheric.com

UCI Elite/U23 Men 
1 Dan Timmerman Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix1:01:18
2 Josh Dillon Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix1:01:27
3 Adam Myerson Cycle-Smart 1:01:27
4 Justin Lindine BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 1:01:27
5 William Dugan Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix1:02:20
6 1 Luke Keough Team Champion System 1:02:52
7 Nathaniel Ward BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 1:03:33
8 Dylan McNicholas CCb Racing 1:03:33
9 Michael Broderick KENDA-Seven-NoTubes 1:03:59
10 Damian Schmitt Sunnyside Sports 1:04:04
11 Nathan Chown handlebars CC 1:04:25
12 Chad Wells Hudz/Subaru 1:04:25
13 Adam Snyder Team Jamis 1:04:29
14 Alec Donahue Cycle-Smart / NCC 1:04:43
15 2 Patrick Bradley Rutgers University Cycling Team 1:05:17
16 Brian Wilichoski CyclocrossWorld 1:05:24
17 Pavel Gonda NYU 1:05:42
18 David Wilcox Geekhouse Bikes / Boston Rock Gym 1:05:42
19 John Burns Bikeman.com 1:05:55
20 Shawn Marshall Les Rouleurs de l'Outaouais 1:07:25
21 John Hanson IF/Lionette's 1:07:36
22 Christopher Hamlin UVM Cycling 1:07:42
23 Adam Sullivan Cycle-Smart / NCC 1:08:06
24 Colin Reuter International Bicycle/crossresults.com 1:08:22
25 Pierre Vanden Borre Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy 1:08:38

Elite Men's Overall Series
1 Dan Timmerman Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix
2 Josh Dillon Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix
3 Justin Lindine BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF
4 Luke Keough Team Champion System
5 Jerome Townsend BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF

Overall Series U23
1 Luke Keough Team Champion System
2 Jerome Townsend BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF
3 Manny Goguen Bikereg/Joe's Garage/IF

Cat 4 Men & 35+
1 1 Geoff McIntosh New Hampshire Cycling Club 0:35:48  35+
2 Donny Green team makeout party (Dash bikes/Circle A Cycles) 0:36:01
3 Delinks Chandle Echelon 0:36:30
4 2 Brian Medeiros Scottee's Westport Bicycle 0:36:30 35+
5 3 John McGrath NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:36:45 35+
6 4 Matt Williams circle69 Racing 0:36:48 35+
7 5 Deke Andrew Portland Velo Club / Cyclemania 0:36:51 35+
8 6 George Lowe 0:37:22
9 7 Michael Whitfield HUP United 0:37:25
10 8 Arnold Roest Team Psycho 0:37:30
11 Nicholas Maggiore Back Bay Bicycles/Espresso Royale Caffe 0:37:47
12 Ned Connelly Cox Communications 0:37:52
13 9 Michael Apfelbaum 0:37:59
14 10 Michael Brier Refunds Now 0:37:59
15 Kent Hirshberg spooky/dedham bike 0:38:05
16 Daniel Kumatz Geekhouse Bikes / Boston Rock Gym 0:38:08
17 11 Roger Howard 0:38:13
18 12 Richard Tobin union velo 0:38:30
19 13 Matthew Whiteley Team Waterloo 0:38:40
20 14 Dan Ipp RIT Cycling 0:38:50
21 15 Charlie Schubert Bikes Not Bombs 0:38:50
22 16 James Parascandola RIT Cycling 0:38:50
23 Joe Lawler Sids Bikes NYC/Joe Matta 0:38:50
24 17 Wes Deane Block Island Velo Club 0:38:57
25 18 Kenneth Hamel cyclonauts racers 0:38:57
26 Andrew Muro Geekhouse Bikes 0:39:09
27 Robert Morgan Geekhouse Bikes 0:39:09
28 John Rhoden MIT Cycling/FXDD 0:39:12
29 19 Ron Hines QuadCycles 0:39:22
30 Lee Salway 0:39:25
31 20 Benjamin Kjoller Cape Cod Racing / C4 0:39:26 35+

Juniors 10-14
1 Peter Goguen minuteman road club 0:28:58
2 Nicolas Catlin Tokeneke Road Club 0:29:46
3 Jonathan Anderson 0:30:16
4 Cooper Willsey Whites Bikes/GMBC/Catamount 0:32:16
5 Joseph Toth Capital Bicycle Racing Club 0:33:02
6 Joshua Anderson 0:34:44
7 Victoria Gates NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:35:58
8 Tom Pescatore 0:37:51
9 Donnie Seib BIKEMAN.COM 0:42:52
10 Greg Gunsalus Team FUJI -1 lap
11 Graeme Brown Cox Communications Cycling Team -1 lap
12 Kevin Stacey NEBC/CYCLELOFT -1 lap

Juniors 10-14 Overall Series
1 Peter Goguen Minuteman Road Club
2 Austin Vincent CLNoonan/KAM/Coast to Coast
3 Cooper Willsey GMBC/Catamount/Whites Bikes

Cat 3/4 Women 31 starters
1 Emma White CBRC/Capital Bicycle Racing Club 0:28:52
2 Julie Lefebvre International Bicycle/Global 0:29:34
3 Rebecca Lowe 0:30:27
4 Sally McInnis JRA Cycles 0:30:43
5 Nancy Labbe-Giguere QuadCycles 0:31:04
6 Christine Fort QuadCycles 0:31:20
7 Elizabeth Lukowski NYCROSS.COM / VO MAX / CBRC 0:31:23
8 Natalia McKittrick Cambridge Bicycle/Igleheart Frames 0:31:28
9 Andrea Brayman 0:31:32
10 Jessica Hayes Conroy North Atlantic Velo 0:31:42
11 Brittlee Bowman Kissena 0:31:52
12 Cathy Rowell NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:31:52
13 Ivy Luhrs Velo Bella 0:32:29
14 Leah Pappas-Barnes Independent Fabrication 0:32:45
15 Rebecca Zanconato Zanconato Racing 0:32:45
16 Carrie Hansen Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus 0:33:02
17 Kathleen Gagnon Naults Cyclery/Naults.com 0:33:10
18 Christina Birch MIT Cycling/FXDD 0:33:13
19 Audrey Romanovsky Muddy Cup Cycling 0:34:22
20 Millie MILTON MRC 0:35:34
21 Molly Hurford Rutgers University Cycling Team 0:35:34
22 Molly Hamill Bikes Not Bombs 0:36:08
23 Zuzana Trnovcova MIT Cycling / FXDD 0:36:31
24 Cindy Brennan Bikes Not Bombs 0:36:47
25 Karin Turer NEBC/CycleLoft/Devonshire Dental 0:38:29

Masters  Men 45+ 50
1 Mark Gunsalus Team FUJI Clif Bar 0:41:41
2 Sam Morse Corner Cycle 0:42:08
3 John Funk Bikereg.com / Joe's Garage / IF 0:42:15
4 John Mosher Team Wheel Works 0:42:46
5 Chris Borrello Gear Works/Spin Arts 0:43:21
6 Mitchell Medeiros scottee's westport bicycle 0:43:30
7 M. Andrew Ruiz CCC/Keltic Construction 0:43:46
8 Robert Orange Ride with Rendall 0:43:54
9 Tom FRANCIS Bikebarnracing.com 0:44:01
10 Eric Marro BOB/Shift-Stonyfield Farm-Ariza-Goodales 0:44:01

Masters Men 45+ Overall Series
1 Mark Gunsalus Team FUJI Clif Bar
2 Sam Morse Corner Cycle
3 John Mosher Wheel Works

Masters 55+
1 William Sawyer Gearworks - Spinarts 0:46:51
2 George Pawle Cyclonauts Racers 0:46:59
3 David Goodwin Northampton Cycling Club 0:47:07
4 Richard SachsRichard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix 0:47:11
5 Dusty Adams MosaicSmalti.com 0:47:21
6 Barry Doubleday Mass Bay Road Club 0:47:24
7 Dave Beals NYCROSS.COM / VO Max / CBRC 0:48:08
8 Gary Passler ECV/TRIFIT Training 0:48:08
9 Gary Musgrove Bikebarnracing.com 0:48:42
10 Steven Abbott cyclonauts 0:49:51

Overall Series Masters 55+
1 William Sawyer Gearworks - Spinarts
2 David Goodwin Northampton Cycling Club
3 Barry Doubleday MBRC/Bicycle Link

Cat 1-3 Masters 35+
1 Mark McCormack Team FUJI/Clif Bar 0:39:55
2 Kevin Hines Corner Cycle 0:39:56
3 Jonny Bold Corner Cycle 0:40:10
4 Roger Aspholm Westwood Velo 0:40:27
5 Matt Kraus Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix0:40:41
6 Curtis Boivin Planet Bike 0:40:49
7 Bill Shattuck bikebarnracing.com 0:41:02
8 Ryan Rumsey Bikeman.com 0:41:06
9 Steve Proulx Stevens Racing 0:41:08
10 Keith Gauvin Cyclonauts 0:41:09

Masters 35 + Overall Series
1 Jonny Bold Corner Cycle
2 Roger Aspholm Westwood Velo
3 Kevin Hines Corner Cycle Cycling Club

Juniors 15-18
1 Evan Mcneely EMD Serono / Specialized 0:40:04
2 Karl Hoppner EMD Serono Specialized 0:41:33
3 Curtis White CLIF BAR Development Cyclocross Team 0:41:40
4 Kiernan Orange Ride with Rendall 0:41:49
5 Nate Morse CLIF BAR Development Cyclocross Team 0:42:00
6 Joshua Lehmann Sunapee/S&W/Continental Paving Racing Team 0:42:14
7 Jesse KEOUGH CL Noonan 0:42:50
8 Conor O'Brien EMD Serono-Specialized 0:43:09
9 Paul Lynch CLNoonan/Coast-to-Coast/KAM 0:43:10
10 Andrew Grosenbaugh CL Noonan 0:45:06

Juniors 15-18  Overall Series
1 Jesse Keough Corner Cycle Cycling Club
2 Evan Mcneely EMD Serono / Specialized
3 Joshua Lehmann Sunapee/S&W/Continental Paving Racing Team

Cat 3 Men
1 Colin H. Murphy CycleSmart / NCC 0:41:32
2 Cary Fridrich Embrocation Cycling Journal  0:41:40
3 Michael Wissell back bay bicycles/ espresso royale caffe 0:41:40
4 Evan Huff Cycle Smart / NCC 0:41:55
5 Colin Rowan Corner Cycle 0:41:55
6 Synjen Marrocco CL Noonan/Coast to Coast/KAM 0:41:55
7 James Morrison Embrocation Cycling Journal 0:42:15
8 Collin Huston CL Noonan/Coast to Coast/KAM 0:42:15
9 Scott Rosenthal Zanconato Racing 0:42:20
10 Anthony Clark HIGHLAND BIKE 0:42:37

Cat 3 Men Overall Series
1 Collin Huston CL Noonan/Coast to Coast/KAM
2 Cary Fridrich Embrocation Cycling Journal
3 Evan Huff

• Discuss the sport with fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton Forums & Chat Room.
• Sponsor the Daily Peloton - advertise your product - contact us
• Put your passion into words -  contact us.
• Link your site or blog to  www.dailypeloton.com