November 28, 2007 (Sterling, Mass.) – Top cyclocross racers up and down the East Coast will get their second Thanksgiving feast on Saturday when they line up for one of the traditional events on the calendar: the Bay State Cyclocross in Sterling, Mass.

This year’s edition features, as always, a brilliant course designed by the Tom Stevens. Starting with a bit of an aperitif on a cinder running track, the course quickly gets interesting with a short climb with barriers and a difficult hilltop turn, followed by the main course: a difficult run up followed by a fast descent and the dreaded Horse Jump. Then the course heads into a series of grass corners, with some off-camber surprises and barriers before returning to a paved road and the running track.

“I set it up so the flow of the race allows riders to go very hard, but then get a forced recovery on the downhills and through the technical corners. So you get a bit of a rest so that when you get out on the open field again, you can light it up,” Stevens said.

Sterling is the fifth event in the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-cross Series, and promises some tough competition as riders battle for the event win and the prestigious series leader’s jersey.

With the holiday week bringing many top riders back home to New England, some last minute entries are expected in all categories.

In the Elite Men’s race, series leader Jesse Anthony (Jamis) will be looking for his third win of the series. He’ll face some tough competition from Mark McCormack (Cliff Bar), who is third in the series rankings. Also on fire: fourth-ranked Adam Myerson (NERAC); Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com), who won the first Verge New England series event in Gloucester, Mass, in October; and multi-time national champ Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com-Leer).

In the Elite Women’s race, series leader Lyne Bessette (Can) Cyclocrossworld.com is racing in Europe, as is fourth-ranked Maureen Bruno-Roy. But Ridley’s Rebecca Wellons (ranked second in the series) plans to do battle with some tough customers including Amy Wallace (Richard Sachs-RGM Watches) and Anna Milkowski (Kona-Velo Bella).

Wellons had a break-out race at Sterling last year, and has been on a roll – a very fast roll – ever since.

“It was at that race when I finally began to believe in myself, so I have good feelings about this race,” Wellons said.

This year’s Bay State Cyclocross is in memory of Stefan Hesselberg, a talented rider, musician and all-around great guy who passed away this summer. Hesselberg was a long-standing member of the Berkshire Cycling Association and would have been 50 this year.

“Stefan was a guy who was unafraid to meet people and do new things. He tried to join a Czech circus, he trained horses, he welded nuclear submarines and he played in a rock and roll band,” said Stevens.
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The 2007 Verge NECCS is sponsors include: Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines; BikeReg.com, the official registration service of the NECCS, is the solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; Greyhound Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; and Paul Weiss Photo/Video, the NECCS official photographer and videographer.

Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
– October 13 – Gloucester Gran Prix of Cyclocross #1 – Gloucester, MA
– October 13 – Gloucester Gran Prix of Cyclocross #2 – Gloucester, MA
– November 3 – Chainbiter 9.0 – Farmington, CT
– November 4 – Cycle-Smart International – Northampton, MA
– November 24 – Bay State Cyclocross – Sterling, MA
– December 8 – W.E. Steadman Grand Prix – Warwick, RI
– December 9 – Caster’s Cyclocross – Warwick, RI

For more information on the 2007 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series please go to www.necyclocross.com