Advertisement

The Elite Women on course today at NBX. © Meg McMahon

The Elite Women on course today at NBX. © Meg McMahon

by Cindy Brennan with interviews by Andrew Reimann

Rain fell on bayside Goddard Park in Warwick, RI today as racers took to the course for the first day of the NBX Gran Prix, the seventh round of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart. As the penultimate round of the 2014 Verge NECX Series, races in each of the fourteen Series categories were especially hard-fought. New England is the premier region for American cyclocross, with top-notch races nearly every weekend; however, NBX is an adored favorite for racers and fans alike. Challenging, rooty trails through wooded sections lead into long beach runs and fast, sandy turns, giving the race character that makes it as fun to race as to spectate.

Noble, Bruno Roy, Anthony, and White led for most of the race. © Meg McMahon

Noble, Bruno Roy, Anthony, and White led for most of the race. © Meg McMahon

Ellen Noble (JAM Fund/NCC), who is both overall Elite Women’s Series leader and U23 Series leader, aims to finish her amazing New England UCI season with a bang this weekend. Under a light rain, Noble took an early lead with Mo Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles) on her wheel. Right behind them, Crystal Anthony (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Libby White (UVM Cycling) fought to catch the two leaders and succeeded. Behind the leaders, the chase never quite got organized: Laurel Rathbun (Raleigh/Clement) and Cassandra Maximenko (Rare Vos/Van Dessel/PowerBar) both rode alone for most of the race. Chris Birch (JAM Fund/NCC) had been chasing in fourth but fell back as well. Safe from any threat from a chase, the lead group began to play cat-and-mouse in the final laps.

The leaders fly through the log barriers. © Meg McMahon

The leaders fly through the log barriers. © Meg McMahon

Noble pressured the group first, trying to gain a gap; as the group caught her and reorganized, Anthony launched an attack through a tricky section of wet, slick roots. Noble and White charged to bring Anthony back. A steadier rain fell, making the challenging course even slicker. Anthony’s lead over Noble and White was so narrow that any slight bobble in the final challenging turns could compromise her lead, but Anthony rode clean to take the win. Noble claimed second, White third, and Bruno Roy fourth. Behind the lead group, Rathbun finished fifth, Maximenko sixth, and Birch seventh.

Noble’s second place finish solidified her series lead in both the overall Elite Women’s and U23 categories.

Interview with Crystal Anthony

Curtis White Takes the Right Line for the Win

The Elite Men hit the course, and quickly a lead group of select racers formed: Series leader Dan Timmerman (House Industries/SimpleHuman/Richard Sachs), Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com), Kerry Werner (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), and New England fan favorite Anthony Clark (JAM Fund/NCC). Justin Lindine (Redline Factory/NBX) and Christian Favata (TRT Bicycles) chased, but Lindine alone was able to connect with the leaders.

Timmerman and Clark at the helm of the race. © Meg McMahon

Timmerman and Clark at the helm of the race. © Meg McMahon

Werner and Timmerman attacked the group, gaining a few seconds’ gap, but the group of five were all together with one lap to go. A driving rain fell on the course as the racers headed into their final lap. Clark fell a few seconds behind the group, leaving four men standing. White attacked, only just barely able to gain a lead of a few bike lengths as Timmerman and Werner chased hard. White led into the final turns and was able to hold his advantage to the line. White claimed the victory, Timmerman second, and Werner third. Lindine crossed the line in fourth and Clark in fifth.

Adam Myerson leads Lindine through the beach section, both riders had great rides on day one. © Meg McMahon

Adam Myerson leads Lindine through the beach section, both riders had great rides on day one. © Meg McMahon

White’s win moved him into the U23 Series lead, as Timmerman’s second place finish was enough to hang on to the overall Elite Men’s lead.

White wins in a close race with Timmerman, second, and Werner, third. © Meg McMahon

White wins in a close race with Timmerman, second, and Werner, third. © Meg McMahon

Day two of the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross  tomorrow will be the finale of the 2014 Verge New England Cyclocross Series. The final battles in all Series categories promise to deliver the most exciting races of the season. Watch the Elite races live on gnarlymonkey.com and follow live tweets of the race at @VergeNECXS. The hashtag for the weekend is #NBXcx.

2014 NBX Day One Elite Women Full Results

RankNameAgeTime
1Crystal ANTHONY3446:48:00
2Ellen NOBLE1946:52:00
3Elizabeth WHITE2046:55:00
4Maureen BRUNO ROY3947:21:00
5Laurel RATHBUN1847:56:00
6Cassandra MAXIMENKO3148:07:00
7Christina BIRCH2848:28:00
8Kathryn CUMMING2848:49:00
9Jenny IVES2949:02:00
10Jessica DUPPLER2749:09:00
11Brittlee BOWMAN3049:30:00
12Rebecca FAHRINGER2549:37:00
13Erin FACCONE3049:47:00
14Joanne GROGAN3950:15:00
15Victoria GATES1750:19:00
16Catherine STERLING3850:31:00
17Rebecca BLATT3450:36:00
18Julie WRIGHT2850:41:00
19Jauron VETTER4050:48:00
20Katina WALKER4751:31:00
21Nicole PISANI3652:44:00
22Melissa SEIB1753:20:00
23Allison LINNELL2453:32:00
24Michele SMITH3753:32:00
25Melissa LAFLEUR3054:19:00
26Leslie TIMM3054:35:00
27Jane ROSSI2155:05:00
28Jordan DUB2755:14:00

2014 NBX Day One Elite Men Full Results

RankNameAge*Result
1Curtis WHITE191:00:48
2Dan TIMMERMAN341:00:48
3Kerry WERNER231:00:49
4Justin LINDINE301:00:51
5Anthony CLARK271:01:01
6Jeremy MARTIN221:01:56
7Christian FAVATA361:01:56
8Scott SMITH201:02:22
9Sam O'KEEFE201:02:32
10Mike GARRIGAN331:02:37
11Jerome TOWNSEND251:02:38
12Adam MYERSON421:02:50
13Robert MARION321:02:50
14Jake WELLS361:03:27
15Joshua THORNTON351:03:55
16Jack KISSEBERTH211:04:04
17Ben FREDERICK251:04:18
18Nicholas LEMKE311:04:22
19Lewis GAFFNEY221:04:31
20Kyle MURPHY231:04:52
21Timothy RATTA381:04:58
22Evan MURPHY261:05:10
23Jules GOGUELY211:05:23
24Matt TIMMERMAN381:05:26
25Aaron OAKES321:05:29
26Jonathan SCHOTTLER291:05:32
27Joseph CLEMENZI271:05:59
28Nicholas KEOUGH251:06:26
29Andrew LOAIZA271:06:44
30Cory SMALL201:06:53
31Sean PANTELLERE291:07:04
32Sylvain JEAN361:07:14
33Austin PFERD321:07:24
34Matthew SOUSA271:07:32
35Charles SCHUBERT341:07:46
36Cary FRIDRICH311:07:47
37Nathan DUGAN241:08:34
38Evan COOPER241:09:06
39William JOHNSON321:09:07
40John BURNS381:09:53
41John ECKERT301:09:59
42Alec HOOVER211:00:49
43David DEVINE251:00:49
44Ian SCHON241:00:49
45Jesse QUAGLIAROLI311:00:49
46Arthur MORAN261:00:49