Advertisement

Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart) gets the monkey off his back © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart) gets his first-ever UCI win © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Today’s fourth round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series saw the best competition of this year’s series to date. The podiums of three of the marquee races came down to bunch sprints, much to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd. For a second day, New Gloucester, Maine’s Pineland Farms’ scenic landscape played host to top-notch regional racing. John Grenier of the race’s presenting sponsor, Rainbow Bikes, was able to take full advantage of the terrain and created a course described by many not as technical, but as tricky, forcing racers to be fully concentrated through long sweeping corners and tight off-camber sections. The combination of power and precision gave advantage to racers who are accustomed to driving their bikes, rather than simply riding them.

Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) gets the holeshot © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) gets the holeshot © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

The Elite Women had a back and forth three-way battle between teammates Sally Annis and Sara Bresnick-Zocchi (crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles) and series leader Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing). Each woman made attempts to break free from the group as they wound through the pastures of Pineland Farms but no moves stuck. It was not until the last half lap that Annis and Smith took advantage of a bobble by Bresnick-Zocchi and the duel between the two women began in earnest. Annis, whose cycling success prior to this year was on the road, was able to ride conservatively as she led Smith through the final grass turns, and once the two were on the pavement, the race was decided. Annis’ victory was her fourth UCI victory of the season and of her career. Smith, by claiming second place, managed to keep a slim lead in the series competition. While the three women were together off the front for almost the whole race, Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal) chased alone, never able to close the gap to the podium, notching a career-best fourth in a UCI race.

Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s) leads the attack into the hurdles © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s) leads the attack into the hurdles © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

The Elite Men treated an enthusiastic crowd to one of the most exciting races we’ve seen in recent memory. From the gun, Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s) and Justin Lindine (bikereg.com-Joe’s Garage-Scott) were able to group together and leave the rest of the field behind. The three racers traded barbs for the entire race, with McNicholas and Lindine both taking long pulls on the front in hopes of dropping someone off the back. Myerson, knowing that his best chance for victory would be to follow early moves rather than to initiate, seemed content to sit in and take advantage of mistakes by his competitors. While the laps ticked down and each attack was countered, it began to look as though it would come down to a sprint finish, giving Myerson a clear advantage. As the group of three came onto the pavement, Myerson took the sprint from the front with McNicholas second and Lindine third. For Myerson, this was his first UCI victory in over 20 years as a Senior racer and what may be his last season as an Elite. Lindine maintained his control over the series leadership with his third place.

Behind the group of three, U-23 series leader Nick Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) stretched his lead with a U-23 victory and fourth overall ahead of Richard Sachs-RGM-Radix racer Josh Dillon.

The Masters 35+ race once again showcased a dominant performance by Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo), who was able to ride away from a chase group including Kevin Hines and Jonny Bold from Corner Cycle and Matt Kraus (Richard Sachs-RGM Watches-Radix). While Aspholm’s big early lead allowed him to race conservatively, the chase behind him was a flurry of attacks by Kraus, knowing that the worst place for him to be in the last two hundred meters would be with the Corner Cycle duo. Despite forcing Bold and Hines into difficulty, Kraus was not able to shake them and the three would sprint for the balance of the podium. On the pavement first, Kraus was able to hold off a charging Hines as Bold came across fourth. Aspholm’s victory kept him in the Verge leader’s jersey for another weekend and put him into a very good position going into Northampton in two weeks.

With another weekend in the books, the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series prepares for its home stretch with the 20th edition of the Cycle Smart International on the 6th and 7th of November, Bay State Cyclocross on the 28th and 29th of November and the NBX GP of Cross on December 4th and 5th.

Women’s Photo Gallery:

Men’s Photo Gallery:

Full Results:

Women

Place Bib Time First Name Last Name Team
1 103 0:32:53 Sally ANNIS crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
2 105 0:32:53 Andrea SMITH LadiesFirst Racing
3 115 0:33:32 Sara BRESNICK-ZOCCHI crossresults.com/Pedalpowercoaching.com
4 111 0:33:51 Linnea KOONS Embrocation Cycling Journal
5 109 0:34:13 Crystal ANTHONY LadiesFirst Racing
6 108 0:34:19 Christina TAMILIO LadiesFirst Racing
7 101 0:34:48 Rebecca BLATT silverbull centralwheel
8 107 0:34:56 Anna BARENSFELD LadiesFirst Racing
9 120 0:35:06 Lara KROEPSCH Hudz Subaru
10 114 0:35:30 Rebecca WELLONS PEDRO’S
11 104 0:35:30 Allison SNOOKS LadiesFirst Racing
12 116 0:35:46 Melissa ROSS Team MMWR/Landry’s Bicycles
13 117 0:36:11 Kate NORTHCOTT BEAM TEAM RACING
14 102 0:36:19 Corey COOGAN CISEK Team Plan C
15 110 0:36:41 Catherine STERLING
16 118 0:37:10 Marilyn RUSECKAS Seven Cycles/NoTubes/FitWerx
17 112 0:37:40 Arielle FILIBERTI Wheelhouse Racing
18 119 0:39:16 Marian Jamison Seaside Cycles/Antero Resources
19 113 0:39:52 Darcy FOLEY Bicycle Concepts

Men

Place U23 Bib Time First Name Last Name Team
1 23 1:00:47 Adam MYERSON Cycle-Smart
2 15 1:00:47 Dylan MCNICHOLAS PEDROS
3 16 1:00:47 Justin LINDINE BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott
4 1 11 1:01:36 Nicholas KEOUGH Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross
5 17 1:01:50 Josh DILLON RICHARD SACHS – RGM WATCHES – RADIX
6 24 1:02:13 Guillaume NELESSEN Van Dessel Factory Team
7 22 1:02:22 Peter BRADSHAW Embrocation Cycling Journal
8 8 1:02:38 Christian FAVATA Favata’s Tablerock Tours and Bikes
9 5 1:03:03 Shawn MILNE Seaside Cycles/Antero Resources
10 27 1:03:18 Shaun ADAMSON Cycle-Smart
11 34 1:03:25 Daniel CHABANOV NYCROSS.com / CBRC
12 2 10 1:03:34 Jesse KEOUGH Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross
13 20 1:03:38 David WILCOX PEDROS
14 32 1:03:49 Brian WILICHOSKI CYCLOCROSSWORLD.COM
15 7 1:03:53 Colin REUTER crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
16 28 1:04:13 John BURNS Bikeman.com
17 30 1:04:37 Greg WHITNEY B2C2 p/b Boloco
18 36 1:04:42 Corey COLLIER On the Rivet
19 31 1:04:53 Pascal BUSSIERES Team Spirit/Cannondale pb Rhus Elementi
20 3 1:04:53 Michael JENKS Highland Park Hermes p/b Kim’s Bike Shop
21 33 1:04:53 Michael WISSELL B2C2
22 3 29 1:05:07 Collin HUSTON Moots
23 2 1:05:35 Matthew FOX Sunnyside Sports
24 4 21 1:05:58 Joshua LEHMANN PEDROS
25 25 1:06:04 Ryan KELLY crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
26 14 1:07:01 John HANSON Silver Bull/Central Wheel
27 4 1:07:01 Colin H. MURPHY Embrocation Cycling Journal
28 26 1:07:01 Evan HUFF BikeReg.com
29 12 1:07:01 Peter RUBIJONO Embrocation Cycling Journal
30 35 1 lap Stephen Pierce Cambridge Bicycle
31 1 1 lap Joshua FRIEDMAN NYC Velo
32 13 2 lap Tom GOSSELIN FRANK Bikes
33 18 2 lap R. Michael MCKITTRICK Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames