The 2011 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series kicked off today at the Catamount Family Center in Williston, Vermont. The traditional kickoff to the New England season, the Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend tests racers ability to suffer on some of the longest climbs in New England cyclocross. The landscape surrounding the course is beautiful and the [...]
When it comes to Northeast cyclocross racing and specifically Northeast-based cyclocross professionals, most think of the usual suspects: Adam Myerson of Cycle-Smart, Jeremy Powers of Rapha-Focus, Tim Johnson of Cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale, the retired Dan Timmerman (formerly of Richard Sachs), Jamey Driscoll of Cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale and the list goes on. However, if you attend almost any Northeast UCI level cyclocross race, you will find perennial strong man Justin Lindine mixing it up at the front of the race with the big names in the sport and often finishing on the top of the podium. Recently, Justin took the time to sit down and answer some of my questions regarding his recent move from full time road racer to full-time elite Mountain XC racer, his racing plans for the future and of course, cyclocross.
It seems like there is always a lot going on in the world of professional bike racing and bike racing in general. We are always prepping for a new season or in the midst of another season. There is almost never a break: ’cross season rolls into road season which rolls into mountain bike season which rolls right back into ’cross season. But it’s that time of year again where we are rolling back into ’cross season, which means more and more ’cross pro rumors and rumblings. Sven Nys has ended his mountain bike season early to prep for ’cross. Tim Johnson and Joshn Huesby are sticking it to the Open Duo Men in Breckenridge. Jeremy Powers heads to Colorado for a little pre-race recon. Ryan Trebon takes on the hardest one day event ever, Rapha Gentleman’s Race. Todd Wells climbs to the sky and beyond. In Memory: Marc Druyts, a Cyclocross Legend. This week’s Working Man’s Edition: Matter vs. Schouten; Lindine heads to the sky.
Weeknight racing, long weekend road and mountain bike rides, maybe even a mountain bike race or a road race: these are all the little things we try and do to get our “cyclocross fix,” but it’s not the same. There is no substitute for the gasping breaths, the burning legs, the cross-eyed attempts at clearing the sand pit or the barriers. But we try to capture the feeling with our substitute races and by seeing what is happening in the world of pro cyclocross racers.
It’s time to really start thinking about ’cross season, maybe even starting to glue up some tires if you haven’t already. Now that it’s that time of the year again, heading out and pinning, or zip-tying, numbers up is probably a good idea. The Pro racers have that in mind too as they’re out getting the race miles in to prepare for a strong ’cross season.
This week, the Tour of California is being absolutely dominated by ’cross riders, with Jamey Driscoll, Jesse Anthony, Jeremy Powers, Lars Boom and Ben Jacques-Maynes all making appearances at the front of the race. [See some of our race coverage of Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4.] Sven Nys is on his way to his second Olympic games after a second place finish to Julien Absalon. John Gadret came oh-so-close last week to a stage win at the Giro, but clearly that wasn’t good enough for the Frenchmen, as he sealed the deal this week with a Stage 11 win. Is Kaitlin Antonneau making a switch to the mountain bike? Rumors are brewing that the USGP may make a stop in Bend, OR. This week’s Working Man’s Edition takes another look at Justin Lindine as he heads to Canada for the Coupe de Quebeque and Spencer Paxson as he crosses the pond for the Dalby Forest World Cup.
by Kat Statman Some weeks the ’cross season seems closer and closer, and others it just seems farther away. I’m not sure where this week stands, maybe it’s farther away, but only because there’s a lot of road and mountain bike racing news coming down the wire. So where did the top ’crossers pop up [...]
13 Regional Champions Crowned on Last Day of New England Season FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS – 13 riders were crowned with the newly-conceived New England Regional Cyclocross Championship this weekend at the friendly confines of Coolidge Park in Fitchburg, MA. The first annual event hosted 240 riders during the two days, with exciting racing on a frozen, [...]
The final round of the 2010 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series dawned to seasonably cold temperatures but surprisingly dry conditions. Once again, the series conclusion was held at the NBX GP of ’Cross at Goddard Park in Warwick, Rhode Island. Coming in to the final day of the series, the Elite categories were too [...]
by Peter Sullivan STERLING, MASS. – Another exciting day of racing at the NACT finals at Sterling, Massachusetts as Powers sealed his overall lead in the series by taking his second win of the weekend. Check back soon for a full report and photos! In the Women’s field, Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) outsprinted Mo Bruno Roy [...]
IN THE COWBELL FORUMS:
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