Here, Zach McDonald takes the overall win at Day 2 of Providence. © Todd Prekaski
This autumn, New England secures its place as the paramount region of American cyclocross. A season of world-class events will draw the highest echelon of racers to compete for supremacy in America’s two most prestigious cyclocross race series. The action unfolds on the most scenic race courses in the country, where former and current US National Champions hit the grass, dirt, and pavement, squaring off against national champions from all over the world. Professional cyclist and Tour de France starter Ted King, a native New Englander, has even been known to make a cameo appearance to compete against the cyclocross greats.
The Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge will crown the true Elite champions in categories for Elite men, Elite women, U23 men and U23 women in four challenging weekends of racing: Great Brewers Gran Prix of Cyclocross, Providence Cyclocross Festival, Cycle-Smart International and NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross.
In the Verge New England Cyclocross Series, amateurs pit their skills against the same courses the elite racers tackle at the Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend, the Great Brewers Gran Prix of Cyclocross, Providence Cyclocross Festival, Cycle-Smart International, Bay State Cyclocross, and NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross. Categories of competition for juniors, masters, amateur men and amateur women ensure six weekends of excitement as the season-long battles play out on the course during every race.
Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend starts the season off in Williston, VT on September 14 & 15. The beautiful scenery of northwestern Vermont sets a backdrop for this challenging and hilly course.
The legendary Great Brewers Gran Prix of Cyclocross marks its 15th edition on September 28 & 29, kicking off the annual Holy Week of Cyclocross in New England, a tremendous week of four UCI races in two weekends of racing. In 2013, the Holy Week has been made even grander with the expansion of the Providence Cyclocross Festival to three days of racing, including a singlespeed and juniors competition on Friday and a UCI C1 race on Saturday. National champions from the US and across the globe join the superstars of US cyclocross to compete for glory on these hallowed courses.
Cycle-Smart International, the oldest UCI cyclocross race in the US, brings world-class racing to Western Massachusetts for two days of peerless racing at a family-friendly event in quaint Northampton, MA on October 5 & 6. On the weekend of November 30, Bay State Cyclocross bring explosive action to Sterling, MA, where racers will battle on this notorious course.
The New England cyclocross season culminates as racers converge at the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross on December 7 & 8 in Warwick, RI. Not only an exciting weekend of racing, this event is the final reckoning in the season-long competition for Elite and Amateur championship in the Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge and the Verge New England Cyclocross Series.
With six weekends of UCI racing and two robust race series, New England is truly a dynamic powerhouse of cyclocross racing in the US. Be sure to watch the news coming from this region in 2013, as New England’s vibrant racing scene continues to lead the charge in US cyclocross!
New England UCI Cyclocross Calendar
Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend
Williston, VT
14 & 15 September
Verge NECXS
Great Brewers Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Essex County, MA
28 & 29 September 2013
Shimano NEPCXS, Verge NECXS
Providence Cyclocross Festival
4, 5 & 6 October
Providence, RI
Shimano NEPCXS, Verge NECXS
Cycle-Smart International
2 & 3 November
Northampton, MA
Shimano NEPCXS, Verge NECXS
Bay State Cyclocross
30 November & 1 December
Sterling, MA
Verge NECXS
NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross
7 & 8 December
Warwick, RI
Shimano NEPCXS, Verge NECXS
Press release by Cindy Brennan
