December 02, 2012 (Warwick, Rhode Island) – An epic day of racing completed this year’s edition of the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross today. Not only drawing to a close a fantastic weekend of racing, today’s races decided the final overall standings in the Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge. Following yesterday’s frigid temperatures, racers and spectators alike were relieved that fog rolling in from the bay over Warwick, Rhode Island brought more tolerable temperatures.
The faces at the front of today’s Elite Women’s race were familiar, as Elle Anderson (Ladies First Racing), Arley Kemmerer (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes), Laura van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) broke away within the first half lap, gaining handfuls of seconds over Crystal Anthony (Cyclocrossworld.com), Mo Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles) and Mary McConneloug (Team Kenda-Seven-No Tubes).
Anthony, hungry for a result that would bring her into second in the series over McConneloug, bridged the gap to the leaders through phenomenal will. These four flew through the course together, while Bruno Roy and McConneloug cranked their pedals in an attempt to gain back some ground.
Each of the leaders attempted attacks in the last half lap, and each was in turn matched by her worthy competitors. The four swung through the final rooted trails all together, but it was van Gilder and Kemmerer who hit the pavement first, guns blazing. The sprint left the race officials to sort it out with a finish line photo, as even the announcers had divergent opinions about the race victory. The results came in: Laura van Gilder won it with a mere quarter of a wheel’s length on Kemmerer.
Crystal Anthony placed third, just the edge she needed to overcome Mary McConneloug, but not the weekend she needed to oust Helen Wyman (Kona) as series champion. Ellen Noble (Trek Cyclocross Collective), celebrating her seventeenth birthday tomorrow, glowed with happiness over claiming the U23 Women’s leader’s jersey.
“Competition in New England is so good, and it keeps getting better. The Shimano and Verge Series are top racing circuits. You race top competitors close to home, so when you race on the national circuit you’re in very good shape, ” said van Gilder, pleased with sweeping the weekend’s races after suffering disappointments here last year.
The Elite Men hit the course with ferocity, and a swarm of seven amassed at the lead of the race, with Shawn Milne (Cyclocrossworld.com) and Derrick St. John (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery) taking turns at the helm. The pack was filled to the brim with racers motivated to do well today: Jeremy Durrin (JAM Fund/NCC/Vittoria), bent on redemption after yesterday’s hopes were crashed; Mike Garrigan (Stage-Race/Blacksmith Cycle), who needs to earn podium spots to ensure his place on the Canadian team in the World Championships this February; Justin Lindine (Redline), hoping to build his late-season form leading up to racing in Belgium and Nationals; Dan Timmerman (RGM Watches – Richard Sachs), winner of the 2009 Verge Series, making a comeback after a few years away from racing; and young Evan McNeely, hoping to move into second spot in the U23 series competition.
This group clung together, attacks stringing them out, danglers chasing back on, until the pace hit a fever pitch in the last lap. Milne, in a dramatic bid to claim his second win this weekend, launched off the front of the race and held his lead for a tremendous victory. Managing his own gap off the front of the group, Garrigan hoped to claim his second second-place finish for the weekend; however, he flatted in the final stretch, allowing Timmerman to slide through to take second as Lindine laid claim to third. Milne’s double victory this weekend moves him into second overall in the series, behind Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) and ahead of Ryan Trebon (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld).
Evan McNeely finished the series with two tremendous races and succeeded in claiming second on the U23 series podium. Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) maintains his lead, while Manny Goguen (CF Racing p/b Trek Portsmouth) took third.
“The racing here is fantastic. The courses are great – it’s a pretty solid region,” says Lindine of the racing New England has to offer.
Results
Women
1. Laura Van gilder (Mellow Mushroom) 40:50
2. Arley Kemmerer (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) 00:00
3. Crystal Anthony (Cyclocrossworld.Com) 00:01
4. Elle Anderson (Ladiesfirst Racing) 00:01
5. Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven-Notubes) 00:20
6. Maureen Bruno roy (Bob’S Red Mill Pb Seven Cycles) 00:21
7. Natasha Elliott (Steven’S Racing P/B The Cyclery) 00:48
8. Maghalie Rochette (Powerwatts-Fttime) 01:36
9. Frances Morrison (Jam Fund / Ncc / Vittoria) 01:40
10. Sally Annis (Pedalpowertraining.Com) 01:47
11. Kathleen Lysakowski (Cycle Lodge) 01:50
12. Ellen Noble (Trek Cyclocross Collective) 01:53
13. Christina Birch (Jam Fund / Ncc / Vittoria) 01:55
14. Brittlee Bowman (Pedalpowertraining.Com) 02:19
15. Julie Lafreniere (Xprezo-Borsao) 02:23
16. Jenny Ives (Favata Trt-Unovelo Cross Team) 02:35
17. Catherine Sterling (Bikeman.Com) 02:44
18. Anna Barensfeld (Pedalpowertraining.Com) 03:04
19. Christina Tamilio (Ladiesfirst Racing) 03:22
20. Lori Cooke (Cycle Lodge) 03:26
21. Joanne Grogan (Cyclocrossracing.Com) 03:52
22. Elizabeth Lukowski (Nycross.Com P/B Vomax) 03:58
23. Allyson Tufano (Sportif Coaching Group/Bpb) 04:06
24. Michelle Bishop (North Point Women’S Racing) 04:23
25. Jennifer Tillman (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) 04:36
26. Marian Jamison (Ladiesfirst Racing) 04:44
27. Vickie Monahan (Expo Wheelmen) 05:05
28. Bailey Semian (Pure Energy Cycling-Proairhfa) 05:06
29. Deirdre Smith (B2C2 P/B Boloco) 05:23
30. Melissa Lafleur (Bonk! Support) 06:40
31. Molly Hurford (Colavita/Espnw Nj) 06:52
32. Abigail Isolda (Nycross.Com P/B Vomax) 06:53
33. Elizabeth Allen (Danielson Adventure Sports) 07:38
34. Jordan Dubé (Mad Alchemy/ Verge Rider Cooperativ) 09:32
Men
1. Shawn Milne (Cyclocrossworld.Com) 1:00:26
2. Dan Timmerman (Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs) 00:06
3. Justin Lindine (Redline) 00:07
4. Jeremy Durrin (Jam Fund / Ncc / Vittoria) 00:07
5. Michael Garrigan (Stage-Race/Blacksmith Cycle) 00:13
6. Evan McNeely (Specialized Canada) 00:20
7. Derrick St. John (Steven’S Racing P/B The Cyclery) 00:28
8. Nicholas Keough (Www.Keoughcyclocross.Com) 01:06
9. Anthony Clark (Jam Fund / Ncc / Vittoria) 01:17
10. Christian Favata (Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs) 01:40
11. Stephen Hyde (West Florida Wheelman) 01:57
12. Adam Myerson (Team Smartstop/Mountain Khakis) 02:22
13. Andrew Watson (Norco Factory Team) 02:30
14. Tyler Wren (Uci Ct: Jamis/Sutter Home) 02:39
15. Jerome Townsend () 02:40
16. Maksym Shepitko (Hudson Furniture Racing Team) 02:41
17. Edwin Bull (Van Dessel Factory Team) 02:41
18. Jesse Keough (Www.Keoughcyclocross.Com) 03:45
19. Daniel Chabanov (Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs) 04:05
20. Sam O’keefe (C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes) 04:10
21. Thomas Sampson (Jam Fund / Ncc / Vittoria) 04:37
22. Nicholas Van winkle (Hudson Furniture Racing Team) 04:43
23. Mike Wissell (B2C2 P/B Boloco) 05:12
24. Andrew Lysaght (Mit Cycling P/B Fxdd) 05:22
25. Colin Reuter (Pedalpowertraining.Com) 05:35
26. Manny Goguen (C.F. Racing P/B Trek Portsmouth) 05:35
27. John Burns (Burns Racing) 05:39
28. Cary Fridrich (Mad Alchemy / Verge Rider Cooperati) 06:38
29. Charlie Schubert (Bikes Not Bombs / Circle A Cycles) 06:49
30. Evan Murphy (Nyc Velo) 07:09
31. John Hanson (Nbx/Narragansett Beer/Apex Tech) 07:27
32. Richard Bardwell (Cycle-Smart) 07:32
33. Donald Snoop jr (Essex County Velo (Ecv)) 08:47
34. Evan Huff (Bikereg.Com / Joe’S Garage) 09:15
35. Joshua Friedman (The Devil’S Gear Bike Shop/New Have)
36. Zachary Semian (Pure Energy Cycling-Proairhfa)
DNF Patrick Bradley (Rutgers University | Raleigh Cyclin)
DNF Kevin Sweeney (B2C2 P/B Boloco)