The men attack the run-up on lap one © Dave Chiu
Northampton, Massachusetts – What began as a cold and wet morning blossomed into another beautiful fall day in New England as the Cycle-Smart International came back to Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts, for its 20th anniversary. In keeping with custom, today’s fifth round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart gave a record crowd a course that required consistent power but also deft handling skills. Much the same as in New Gloucester two weeks ago, Saturday’s racing was action packed with a tense atmosphere as the crowds rushed around the course to catch all the action.
Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) came back to New England for the second time this season and notched yet another win for her impressive resume.
Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) hits the sand first © Dave Chiu
The world’s top-ranked woman started in an elite group with her teammate Arley Kemmerer, Sally Annis (crossrestuls.com p/b JRA Cycles) and Maureen Bruno-Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles). As the race developed, Kemmerer began to fall off the pace, leaving Annis, Van Gilder and Bruno-Roy to contest at the front. Each racer took her risks to create space but, as Bruno-Roy said, it was a race of mistakes. The mistake that made the decision came with two to go when Bruno-Roy and Annis both bobbled the steep ride-up, giving Van Gilder the edge she needed to take her victory. Behind, Annis had lost time to Bruno-Roy and put forth a fevered chase, eventually making contact and riding away, coming across the line solo for second, leaving Bruno-Roy third. With yet another UCI podium and previous series leader Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) coming across fifth, Annis was able to pull on the illustrious Verge NECCS leader’s jersey.
The Elite Men’s podium. (L to R) Damiani, Keough and Keough © Dave Chiu
The Elite Men saw yet another great fight for victory, this time between Luke Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) and Luca Damiani (El Gato CX). The two leaders were trading barbs for much of the race with Damiani turning himself inside out to drop the Champion System racer. With three laps to go, Damiani was able to find some space, but Keough managed to bring him back, and the two rode a false tempo until the final lap when once again Damiani was on the attack, trying to lock the victory in the final set of corners, but Keough was glued to the wheel, able to taste victory. The two hit the pavement together and Keough had the kick to pick up his first-ever UCI victory. Damiani once again finished just a few pedal strokes from the win.
The podium was rounded out with a second Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross racer in Nick Keough, who outkicked an elite chase group including Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Weston Schempf (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes), Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Jerome Townsend (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott). With his sixth place, Lindine maintained his control on the Elite series jersey while Nick Keough held onto his jersey in the U-23 series. This being the 20th edition of the race, both of the Keoughs on the elite podium are younger than the race itself.
Racing continues on Sunday as Annis will try to prove that Van Gilder is beatable in New England, while Andrea Smith will fight to take back the jersey. Luca Damiani will try to break the curse of constant runner-up and finally show New England the good Luz Show.
Photo Gallery:
Full Results:
Elite Men
| UCI Elite/U23 Men | 54 starters | |||||
| Place | U23 | Bib | Time | First Name | Last Name | Team |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | 0:59:51 | Luke | KEOUGH | Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross |
| 2 | 2 | 0:59:52 | Luca | DAMIANI | Kenda p/b Geargrinder | |
| 3 | 2 | 10 | 1:00:26 | Nicholas | KEOUGH | Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross |
| 4 | 3 | 1:00:27 | Adam | MYERSON | Cycle-Smart | |
| 5 | 13 | 1:00:29 | Weston | SCHEMPF | C3-Athletes Serving Athletes | |
| 6 | 1 | 1:00:30 | Justin | LINDINE | BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott | |
| 7 | 3 | 8 | 1:00:30 | Jerome | TOWNSEND | BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott |
| 8 | 12 | 1:00:50 | Christian | FAVATA | Favata’s Tablerock Tours and Bikes | |
| 9 | 7 | 1:01:39 | Ryan | KNAPP | BikeReg.com | |
| 10 | 46 | 1:02:03 | Jonny | SUNDT | Kenda Pro Cycling | |
| 11 | 4 | 1:02:16 | Dylan | MCNICHOLAS | PEDROS | |
| 12 | 11 | 1:02:18 | Andrew | WULFKUHLE | C3-Athletes Serving Athletes | |
| 13 | 14 | 1:02:18 | Peter | BRADSHAW | Embrocation Cycling Journal | |
| 14 | 21 | 1:02:32 | David | WILCOX | PEDROS | |
| 15 | 4 | 41 | 1:02:43 | Jesse | KEOUGH | Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross |
| 16 | 16 | 1:03:00 | Wayne | BRAY | MVP Health Care | |
| 17 | 42 | 1:03:01 | Sean | SMITH | ||
| 18 | 40 | 1:03:04 | Evan | HUFF | BikeReg.com | |
| 19 | 19 | 1:03:12 | Kevin | SWEENEY | crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles | |
| 20 | 54 | 1:03:22 | Anthony | CLARK | nebikeconsulting.com | |
| 21 | 30 | 1:03:31 | Michael | JENKS | Highland Park Hermes p/b Kim’s Bike Shop | |
| 22 | 27 | 1:03:35 | Colin | REUTER | crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles | |
| 23 | 5 | 44 | 1:03:40 | Seamus | POWELL | ollett coaching |
| 24 | 20 | 1:03:50 | Cary | FRIDRICH | EMBROCATION CYCLING JOURNAL | |
| 25 | 35 | 1:03:54 | Peter | RUBIJONO | Embrocation Cycling Journal | |
| 26 | 9 | 1:04:17 | Josh | DILLON | RICHARD SACHS – RGM WATCHES – RADIX | |
| 27 | 45 | 1:04:23 | Ryan | KELLY | crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles | |
| 28 | 53 | 1:04:23 | Greg | WHITNEY | B2C2 p/b Boloco | |
| 29 | 36 | 1:04:39 | John | BURNS | Bikeman.com | |
| 30 | 50 | 1:04:51 | John | HANSON | Silver Bull/Central Wheel | |
| 31 | 38 | 1:05:05 | Cory | BURNS | Full Moon Vista | |
| 32 | 37 | 1:05:10 | Christopher | HAMLIN | UVM Cycling | |
| 33 | 25 | 1:05:22 | Michael | WISSELL | B2C2 | |
| 34 | 6 | 47 | 1:05:51 | Matt | MAINER | UVM Cycling |
| 35 | 7 | 51 | 1:06:36 | Matthew | GREEN | Spooky bikes |
| 36 | 33 | 1:06:42 | Adam | SULLIVAN | Embrocation Cycling Journal | |
| 37 | 48 | 1:06:44 | Stephen | PIERCE | Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames | |
| 38 | 52 | 1:07:16 | James | HARMON | 503 Cycleworx/LHCC | |
| 39 | 43 | 1:07:36 | Graham | GARBER | Silver Bull/Central Wheel | |
| 40 | 24 | 1:07:41 | Michael | BARTLETT | Competitive Edge/Power Bar | |
| 41 | 28 | 1:08:08 | Ryan | O’HARA | ||
| 42 | 22 | 1:08:18 | R. Michael | MCKITTRICK | Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames | |
| 43 | 34 | 1:08:20 | Jeff | GELT | Silver Bull/Central Wheel of Farmington CT | |
| 44 | 55 | 1:08:27 | Pierre | VANDEN BORRE | Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy | |
| 45 | 8 | 32 | 1:09:34 | Noah | Tautfest | Vermont Tech |
| 46 | 9 | 49 | at one | lapJoshua | LEHMANN | PEDROS |
| 47 | 10 | 39 | at one | lapCollin | HUSTON | Moots |
| 48 | 29 | at one | lapJonathan | AWERBUCH | SweetOpenRoads.com p/b The Bike Hub | |
| DQ | 26 | DQ ill | feePeter | HAGERTY | Rochester Institute of Technology | |
| DNF | 6 | DNF | Philip | WONG | Seaside Cycle – Antero Resources | |
| DNF | 15 | DNF | Manny | GOGUEN | BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott | |
| DNF | 17 | DNF | Daniel | CHABANOV | NYCROSS.com / CBRC | |
| DNF | 23 | DNF | Corey | COLLIER | Shaver Sport | |
| DNF | 31 | DNF | Rodrigo | MORAES | Edgartown Bicycles |
Elite Women
| UCI Elite Women | 33 starters | ||||
| Place | Bib | Time | First Name | Last Name | Team |
| 1 | 1 | 0:41:44 | Laura | VAN GILDER | C3 Athletes Serving Athletes |
| 2 | 2 | 0:41:50 | Sally | ANNIS | crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles |
| 3 | 7 | 0:41:56 | Maureen | BRUNO ROY | Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles |
| 4 | 6 | 0:42:33 | Arley | KEMMERER | C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes |
| 5 | 3 | 0:42:48 | Andrea | SMITH | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 6 | 12 | 0:42:57 | Christina | TAMILIO | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 7 | 10 | 0:43:06 | Carolyn | POPOVIC | PAValleys.com |
| 8 | 18 | 0:43:07 | Lara | KROEPSCH | Hudz Subaru |
| 9 | 4 | 0:43:23 | Ann | D’AMBRUOSO | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 10 | 13 | 0:43:41 | Linnea | KOONS | Embrocation Cycling Journal |
| 11 | 15 | 0:44:04 | Anna | BARENSFELD | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 12 | 14 | 0:44:25 | Rebecca | WELLONS | PEDRO’S |
| 13 | 9 | 0:44:37 | Rebecca | BLATT | silverbull centralwheel |
| 14 | 29 | 0:44:40 | Sarah | KAUFMANN | elete/Roaring Mouse |
| 15 | 16 | 0:44:50 | Sarah | KRZYSIAK | NYCROSS.com / CBRC |
| 16 | 25 | 0:45:04 | Marilyn | RUSECKAS | Seven Cycles/NoTubes/FitWerx |
| 17 | 19 | 0:45:07 | Allison | SNOOKS | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 18 | 24 | 0:45:08 | Catherine | STERLING | Bikeman.com |
| 19 | 5 | 0:45:35 | Crystal | ANTHONY | LadiesFirst Racing |
| 20 | 11 | 0:45:40 | Nicole | THIEMANN | Team CF |
| 21 | 23 | 0:45:44 | Arielle | FILIBERTI | Dartmouth College |
| 22 | 32 | 0:45:46 | Sheila | VIBERT | New Hampshire Cycling Club |
| 23 | 26 | 0:45:52 | Cassandra | MAXIMENKO | silverbull centralwheel |
| 24 | 21 | 0:46:22 | Amy | CUTLER | Team EPS/CSS p/b Brielle Cyclery |
| 25 | 35 | 0:46:26 | Giulia | RIGHI | silverbull centralwheel |
| 26 | 31 | 0:46:44 | Laura | RALSTON | MIT Cycling/FXDD |
| 27 | 33 | 0:46:53 | Jena | GREASER | Colavita Racing |
| 28 | 30 | 0:47:00 | Jessica | HAYES CONROY | North American Velo |
| 29 | 27 | 0:47:45 | Jan | TANNER | Benidorm Bikes / Eastern Bloc Cycling Club |
| 30 | 34 | 0:48:32 | Anna | MCLOON | Harvard University Cycling Association |
| 31 | 17 | 0:48:39 | Frances | MORRISON | Wheelhouse / NCC |
| DNF | 8 | DNF | Sara | BRESNICK-ZOCCHI | crossresults.com/Pedalpowercoaching.com |
| DNF | 22 | DNF | Laura | SUMMERS | silverbull centralwheel |
