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U23 Racer Zach McDonald takes the overall win at Day 2 of Providence. Todd Prekaski

U23 Racer Zach McDonald takes the overall win at Day 2 of Providence. © Todd Prekaski

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – Conditions at the Providence Cyclocross Festival changed rapidly from fairly dry course conditions early in the day to a slick course with greasy, muddy corners as a partly cloudy sky gave way to a steady rain as the Elite racers inspected the course. It seems that Helen Wyman’s (Kona) and Ben Berden’s wish for a muddy race would be answered.

A tricky off-camber straight-away immediately caused problems for many riders in the Elite women’s field, as Wyman and Gabby Day (Rapha-Focus) seized the opportunity to get away from the pack. Day challenged Wyman, who was attempting to ride away for a 9th win to add to her winning streak, but Day kept the British National Champion within sight for nearly the entire race. Experienced mountain bike champion, Olympian, and expert bike handler Mary McConneloug (Team Kenda/Seven/No Tubes) excelled in today’s challenging conditions, even claiming the distinction of being the only Elite rider in this race to ride the stairs, while holding onto third position for most of the race. Katie Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld) suffered a mechanical in the mud early in the race and finished nowhere close to her stellar second place ride of yesterday after having to spend so much time running with her bike. Wyman felt the pressure from Day right behind her, but managed to remain composed, her bright white British National champion’s jersey remaining clean. On the other hand, most of the rest of the mud-covered Elite women’s field appeared to have slid out on the ice-like course at one time or another. Despite turning up the heat late in the race, as Day will often do, she was unable to catch Wyman, who cruised into her 9th straight win. Following Day in second and McConneloug in third, Andrea Smith (LadiesFirst) had a great ride for fourth with French National cyclocross champion Caroline Mani (Raleigh-Clement) in fifth.

The rain became increasingly heavy as the men lined up to start. British National Champion Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles-Specialized) charged off the front, with Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld) and U23 series points leader Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) matching the pace. McDonald then swung into the lead, these tricky course conditions his favorite type of riding. With McDonald alone, Field assumed second and Johnson third, with Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) and Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement) fighting for fourth and fifth. Ryan Trebon ran into trouble early on with a crash in the treacherous conditions, and a second crash forced him to abandon the race. Justin Lindine (Redline), winner of both days of Providence last year, also crashed early on, removing him from contention for the top spots in the race. Meanwhile, Johnson’s motivation became apparent as he chased down and caught Field, just as Berden surpassed Powers for good. The race concluded for McDonald as he held fast with an amazing ride for a solid win, while Johnson, Field, and Berden came together in the last half lap to battle for the podium. Berden and Johnson dropped a struggling Field, Berden finally emerging to take the second podium spot, followed by crowd favorite Johnson in third.

The Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross series points leaders emerged this weekend in Providence, during the second weekend of the series after the Gran Prix of Gloucester last weekend. Helen Wyman has the clear leadership in the Elite women’s division, while U23 women’s leader is Katie Antonneau. Today’s race winner Zach McDonald cemented his hold on the U23 series jersey, while Powers maintains his grip on the overall Elite men’s jersey.

Gallery by Ethan Glading:

Elite Women’s Results:

PlaceFirst NameLast NameTeamTime
1HelenWymanKONA Factory Racing0:42:34
2GabrielleDayRAPHA Focus0:42:52
3MaryMcconnelougTeam KENDA/Seven/NoTubes0:44:14
4AndreaSmithLadiesFirst Racing0:44:30
5CarolineManiRaleigh-Clement0:44:48
6LauraVan gilderMellow Mushroom0:44:57
7ElleAndersonLadiesFirst Racing0:44:59
8ArleyKemmererC3-Athletes Serving Athletes0:45:35
9KaitlinAntonneauExergy Twenty 120:45:48
10NatashaElliottThe Cyclery0:45:55
11NikkiThiemannTeam CF0:46:24
12AnnaBarensfeldpedalpowertraining.com0:46:30
13BrittleeBowmanpedalpowertraining.com0:46:30
14KathleenLysakowskiCycle Lodge0:46:34
15CassandraMaximenkoSilverbull targettraining0:47:22
16CrystalAnthonyCYCLOCROSSWORLD.COM0:48:16
17JennyIvesFavata TRT-UNOVELO cross team0:48:22
18KathleenWulfkuhleC3 - Athletes Serving Athletes0:48:26
19JamieGilgenKallisto / Wheels of Oakville0:48:37
20FrancesMorrisonJ.A.M. Fund/NCC/Vittoria0:48:37
21AmandaCareyVolkswagon Boise Cycling0:48:59
22JessicaKutzTeam EPS/CSS p/b Shebell & Shebell0:49:41
23CatherineSterlingBikeman.com0:49:43
24EllenNobleTrek Cyclocross Collective0:49:47
25DeirdreSmith0:51:15
26JocelynMauldinNEBC p/b Cycle Loft1L
27ElizabethAllenDanielson Adventure Sports1L
28SarahKrzysiakNYCROSS.com p/b VOmax1L
29EmilyFlynnTommy and Lefebvre Cycling1L
30SheilaVibertSunapee Racing Team1L
31AliceHenriquesZanconato Racing1L
32ChristinaTamilioLadiesFirst Racing1L
33KatePowlisonGS Panache1L
34VanessaMccafferyCorning/NoTubes Race Team/Swan Cycl1L
35PatriciaDowdCYCLOCROSSWORLD.COM1L
36VickieMonahanExpo Wheelmen1L
37MarianJamisonLadiesFirst Racing1L
38StaceyBarbossaColavita/espnW NJ1L
39CaitDooleyGeekhouse Bikes2L
40MollyHurfordColavita Racing2L
41ElizabethLukowskiNYCROSS.com p/b VOmax3L

Elite Men’s Results:

PlaceFirst NameLast NameTeamTime
1ZachMacdonaldRapha Focus1:03:51
2BenBerdenRaleigh-Clement1:03:56
3TimJohnsonCannondale/Cyclocrossworld1:04:07
4IanFieldHargroves Cycles - Specialized1:05:08
5JeremyPowersRAPHA-FOCUS1:05:30
6YannickEckmannCal Giant/Specialized1:05:40
7JameyDriscollUCI CT: Jamis/Sutter Home1:05:44
8TristanSchoutenOptum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies1:06:19
9JakeWellsStan's Notubes1:06:51
10JoachimParboChallenge Tires1:07:04
11JeremyDurrinJAM Fund / NCC / Vittoria1:07:20
12AdamMyersonTeam SmartStop/Mountain Khakis1:07:34
13Michael josephGarriganBlacksmithcycle/Stage-Race1:07:34
14CodyKaiserCalifornia Giant Berry Farms/Specia1:07:34
15AnthonyClarkJAM Fund / NCC / Vittoria1:07:34
16DylanMcnicholascyclocrossworld.com1:08:05
17LukeKeoughwww.keoughcyclocross.com1:08:11
18JustinLindineRedline1:08:25
19CraigRicheySponsorConnected.com1:08:50
20NicholasKeoughwww.keoughcyclocross.com1:08:51
21BradWhiteMoms in Tow Cyclocross1:08:57
22JoelDesgreniersRide With Rendall1:09:09
23ChristopherJonesUCI PCT: UnitedHealthcare1:09:09
24DanTimmermanRGM WATCHES - RICHARD SACHS1:09:44
25DanielChabanovRGM WATCHES - RICHARD SACHS1:09:53
26DerrickSt johnSteven's Racing p/b The Cyclery1:10:00
27AdamSt. germainNBX / Narragansett Beer / Circle A1:10:17
28AllenKrughoffRaleigh-Clement1:10:29
29MichaelBroderickTeam KENDA/Seven/NoTubes1:10:48
30JeremyMartinRocky Mountain Factory team1:11:00
31JesseKeoughwww.keoughcyclocross.com1L
32MaksymShepitkoHudson Furniture Racing Team1L
33SynjenMarroccoCyclocrossWorld.com1L
34EvanHuffBikeReg.com / Joe's Garage2L
35MarkMccormackClif Bar/Pactimo2L
36MikeDe bie2L
37PatrickBradleyPhiladelphia Cyclocross School p/b2L
38ThomasSampsonJAM Fund / NCC / Vittoria2L
39MikeWissellB2C2 p/b Boloco2L
40GrahamGarberCentral Wheel2L
41MathewGreenBicycle Express2L
42EvanMurphyNYC Velo2L
43CharlieSchubertBikes Not Bombs / Circle A Cycles3L
44RobertMarionAmerican Classic Pro Team3L
45GeoffreyBouchardnbx bikes/narragansett beer PB : AP3L
46IanSchonB2C23L
47BrianHughesFast Splits Multisport3L
48DonnyGreenCycle-Smart3L
49JoshThorntonSt. Pete Bike and Fitness3L
50JoshuaFriedmanThe Devil's Gear Bike Shop/New Have3L
51AdamSullivanEmbrocation Cycling Journal3L
52ChaseDickensAmerican Classic Pro Team3L
53CaryFridrichMad Alchemy / Verge Rider Cooperati3L
54HunterPronovostCheshire Cycle Racing - CyclistsAre4L
55AndrewLysaghtMIT Cycling p/b FXDD4L
56JohnHansonNBX/Narragansett Beer/Apex Tech. Cy4L
57JohnBurnsBurns Racing4L
58TimothyDurrinNYCROSS4L
59NoahTautfestBicycle ExpressKona Bikes4L
60AndrewLogiudiceSkylands/Sussex bike4L
61JosephO'brien-applegateBICYCLE ROOTS5L

Gallery by Todd Prekaski: