Advertisement

Luke Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) takes his second win of the weekend © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography | 2010

Luke Keough takes his second win of the weekend © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Northampton, Massachusetts – The 20th annual Cycle-Smart International concluded this afternoon with sweeps by yesterday’s victors. Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) and Luke Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) pulled in victories in impressive fashion in front of large and cheering crowds in Northampton, Massachusetts. The sixth round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series in Northampton featured a similar course to Saturday’s fifth round, complete with a long off-camber climb, steep drop-off and some of the fastest sweeping grass turns New England has to offer.

For Van Gilder, it was another hard-fought victory out of an extremely strong group of racers.

Early on, Sally Annis (crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles) attacked repeatedly, but Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) wouldn’t let her get away © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography | 2010

Early on, Sally Annis attacked repeatedly, but Van Gilder wouldn’t let her get away © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

From the beginning an elite leading group formed of Van Gilder, series leader Sally Annis (crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles), Annis’s teammate Sara Bresnick-Zocchi, Maureen Bruno-Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles) and Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing). Annis was active through the first part of the race, attacking constantly in attempt to break free but never making much of a gap. Her efforts cost her a chance at victory as the gambles burnt her matches, and Annis was left to chase, eventually finishing fifth.

At the front, Van Gilder never seemed in danger, comfortably closing down gaps, forcing her competitors to ride perfectly. A slight bobble in the sand pit between Bruno-Roy and Bresnick-Zocchi was all Van Gilder needed as she made them pay for their mistake, immediately opening a gap just a little too big to be bridged. As Van Gilder crossed the line, soloing in for her second victory on the weekend, the battle for second raged on. Bresnick-Zocchi, knowing her best chance for second place was to hit the pavement first led her competition through the last series of turns, giving no space to pass. They came into the finishing straight with Bresnick-Zocchi leading, Smith second wheel and Bruno-Roy third and that’s how it stayed across the line. Smith’s third place, combined with Annis’s fifth was good enough to bring series leadership back to the Ladies First racer’s shoulders.

It took several laps for the Elite Men’s race to have a selection made. The course’s fast track lent itself to drafting and the wind of the day meant racers were less likely to take risks for fear of being caught out alone. The first group at the front was Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s), Luca Damiani (El Gato CX), Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Luke Keough (Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross). McNicholas and Damiani kept the pace high with Myerson leading through the technical sections of the course.

In a replay of Saturday, Damiani and Keough at the front © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography | 2010

In a replay of Saturday, Damiani and Keough at the front © Natalia Boltukhova

The group held together tight for the first half of the race until McNicholas, then Myerson, began to dangle off the back and eventually lost contact. The group, reduced to three, was moving away quickly with all three evenly matched and determined to take the victory. It wasn’t until Lindine stacked a tight corner, taking Damiani down, that Keough was able to get away. Both crashed riders were back up quickly, but the El Gato racer’s leg was badly cut, forcing him to abandon. As he made a bike change, Myerson and McNicholas absorbed Lindine. The three tried in earnest to bring back the Champion System rider, but to no avail because, as anyone who has raced bikes in New England knows, once a Keough can taste victory, there’s not much that can stop him from achieving it. Keough’s second victory on the weekend came 25 seconds ahead of the sprint for the rest of the podium. Adam Myerson unleashed a finishing kick that left Lindine standing still to pick up his first-ever podium at the race he promotes.

McNicholas, a victim of some rough luck on the final lap, came across the line a few seconds back for fourth. Fifth place went to Nick Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) who maintained his lead in the U-23 competition.

With the conclusion of the 20th edition of the Cycle-Smart International, the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will take two weekends off and resume in Sterling, MA, for rounds 7 and 8. This year’s edition of Bay State Cyclcross will double as the NACT series finale and will once again be a showcase to the nation of the essence of New England cyclocross.

Women’s Photo Gallery:

Men’s Photo Gallery:

Full Results:

Elite Men

UCI Elite/U23 Men 55 starters
Place U23 Bib Time First Name Last Name Team
1 1 5 0:58:23 Luke KEOUGH Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross
2 3 0:58:48 Adam MYERSON Cycle-Smart
3 1 0:58:49 Justin LINDINE BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott
4 4 0:59:08 Dylan MCNICHOLAS PEDROS
5 2 10 0:59:13 Nicholas KEOUGH Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross
6 11 0:59:15 Andrew WULFKUHLE C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
7 3 16 0:59:23 Manny GOGUEN BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott
8 12 0:59:24 Christian FAVATA Favata’s Tablerock Tours and Bikes
9 13 0:59:24 Weston SCHEMPF C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
10 7 0:59:24 Ryan KNAPP BikeReg.com
11 9 1:00:00 Josh DILLON RICHARD SACHS – RGM WATCHES – RADIX
12 19 1:00:16 Shawn MILNE Seaside Cycles/Antero Resources
13 15 1:00:19 Peter BRADSHAW Embrocation Cycling Journal
14 4 8 1:00:40 Jerome TOWNSEND BikeReg.com / Joe’s Garage / Scott
15 5 48 1:00:41 Jesse KEOUGH Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross
16 27 1:00:43 Jonny SUNDT Kenda Pro Cycling
17 18 1:01:02 Daniel CHABANOV NYCROSS.com / CBRC
18 53 1:01:09 Michael JENKS Highland Park Hermes p/b Kim’s Bike Shop
19 6 24 1:01:12 Thomas SAMPSON
20 22 1:01:13 David WILCOX PEDROS
21 20 1:01:15 Kevin SWEENEY crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
22 54 1:01:21 Anthony CLARK nebikeconsulting.com
23 17 1:01:31 Wayne BRAY MVP Health Care
24 7 49 1:01:37 Patrick BRADLEY Rutgers University | Raleigh | Kim’s Bike Shop
25 14 1:01:40 Cory BURNS Full Moon Vista
26 21 1:01:41 Cary FRIDRICH EMBROCATION CYCLING JOURNAL
27 35 1:02:06 Evan HUFF BikeReg.com
28 34 1:02:07 James HARMON 503 Cycleworx/LHCC
29 41 1:02:14 John HANSON Silver Bull/Central Wheel
30 39 1:02:15 Colin REUTER crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
31 37 1:02:28 Michael WISSELL B2C2
32 32 1:02:31 John BURNS Bikeman.com
33 36 1:02:34 Corey Collier Cycle-Smart
34 47 1:02:43 Peter RUBIJONO Embrocation Cycling Journal
35 8 43 1:02:52 Seamus POWELL ollett coaching
36 61 1:03:33 Greg WHITNEY B2C2 p/b Boloco
37 9 29 1:03:39 Joshua LEHMANN PEDROS
38 25 1:03:53 Adam SULLIVAN Embrocation Cycling Journal
39 46 1:03:57 Ryan KELLY crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
40 45 1:04:09 Christopher HAMLIN UVM Cycling
41 30 1:04:36 Jonathan AWERBUCH SweetOpenRoads.com p/b The Bike Hub
42 57 1:04:38 Stephen PIERCE Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames
43 10 60 1:05:06 Collin HUSTON Moots
44 11 52 1:05:09 Matt MAINER UVM Cycling
45 50 1:05:10 Jeff GELT Silver Bull/Central Wheel of Farmington CT
46 23 1:05:52 Pierre VANDEN BORRE Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy
47 40 1:06:25 Michael BARTLETT Competitive Edge/Power Bar
48 12 51 at one lap Peter HAGERTY Rochester Institute of Technology
49 42 at one lap Joshua FRIEDMAN NYC Velo
50 38 at one lap Ryan O’HARA
51 33 at one lap R. Michael MCKITTRICK Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames
52 2 DNF Luca DAMIANI Kenda p/b Geargrinder
53 28 DNF Patrick GOGUEN TEAM CF
54 44 DNF Christopher RAGUSA CCB Racing/Wheelworks
55 56 DNF Sean SMITH

Elite Women

UCI Elite Women 28 starters
Place Bib Time First Name Last Name Team
1 1 0:39:49 Laura VAN GILDER C3 Athletes Serving Athletes
2 8 0:39:55 Sara BRESNICK-ZOCCHI crossresults.com/Pedalpowercoaching.com
3 3 0:39:55 Andrea SMITH LadiesFirst Racing
4 7 0:39:55 Maureen BRUNO ROY Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles
5 2 0:40:18 Sally ANNIS crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles
6 6 0:40:53 Arley KEMMERER C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
7 10 0:41:02 Carolyn POPOVIC PAValleys.com
8 12 0:41:02 Christina TAMILIO LadiesFirst Racing
9 13 0:41:16 Linnea KOONS Embrocation Cycling Journal
10 11 0:41:24 Nicole THIEMANN Team CF
11 14 0:41:36 Rebecca WELLONS PEDRO’S
12 9 0:41:44 Rebecca BLATT silverbull centralwheel
13 15 0:41:46 Anna BARENSFELD LadiesFirst Racing
14 26 0:42:22 Sarah KAUFMANN elete/Roaring Mouse
15 31 0:42:29 Arielle FILIBERTI Dartmouth College
16 19 0:42:29 Marilyn RUSECKAS Seven Cycles/NoTubes/FitWerx
17 16 0:42:48 Sarah KRZYSIAK NYCROSS.com / CBRC
18 27 0:42:50 Cassandra MAXIMENKO silverbull centralwheel
19 29 0:43:32 Catherine STERLING Bikeman.com
20 21 0:43:37 Laura RALSTON MIT Cycling/FXDD
21 20 0:43:43 Bryna BLANCHARD Anthem Sports
22 22 0:44:09 Amy CUTLER Team EPS/CSS p/b Brielle Cyclery
23 23 0:44:21 Jena GREASER Colavita Racing
24 25 0:44:31 Patricia DOWD Team Delphine
25 24 0:44:57 Jessica HAYES CONROY North American Velo
DNF 4 DNF Ann D’AMBRUOSO LadiesFirst Racing
DNF 17 DNF Frances MORRISON Wheelhouse / NCC
DNF 28 DNF Lara Kroepsch Hudz-Subaru Cycling Team