The New England Cross-toberfest Continues: “New England Worlds” Upon Us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2009
CONTACT:
Alan Atwood
Operations Director, Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
(802) 238-0196
alan_atwood@hotmail.com

The annual pilgrimage to the shores of Massachusetts’ Cape Ann commences today with this weekend’s festivities at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester; the Great Brewers Grand Prix of Gloucester.    Week 2 of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be a showdown of the best of the best that the east coast has to offer, put up against some great talent from across the Atlantic and from the west coast.  Over 1400 riders are registered for this weekend, marking the largest expected turnout in series history.

NECCS leader Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix) comes in hot as a pistol after having taken both races last weekend in Vermont.  But the field is much larger and much deeper, as east coast juggernauts Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll, and Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com), and Jesse Anthony (Jamis Cycles) will be some of the elite of elites present to battle it out for the win.  But that’s not all who will be taking aim at the new kid on the block; also expected are the European-based American Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), 3-time Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo (CCV Leopard Cycles), and Belgian rider Tim Van Nuffel (Rendementhypo Cycling).  The fight for the podium will be hot and heavy, and this will definitely be a test for the newly minted star to find out how much he has in the tank and how many he can slay on his way to the podium steps.  But that’s not all who will be taking aim at the new kid on the block; also expected are the European-based American Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), 3-time Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo (CCV Leopard Cycles), and Belgian rider Tim Van Nuffel (Rendementhypo Cycling).  The fight for the podium will be hot and heavy, and this will definitely be a test for the newly minted star to find out how much he has in the tank and how many he can slay on his way to the podium steps. 

Last week’s women’s winners Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy) and Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) will also have their hands full as some of the best regional and national talent converge to Gloucester this weekend.  With 1 UCI win under her belt already this season, Laura Van Gilder (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) will be looking to add to that total on a parcours that suits her very well.  Defending series champion Rebecca Wellons (Team Plan C) is also a favorite here, as her combined skills with cyclo-cross and a wicked sprint will also help her cause here.  Last year’s winner Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix) will be looking to repeat her performance, while west coast stalward Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) will try to get into the mix and build on her lead in the North Atlantic Cyclo-cross Trophy series. 

The Masters 35+ field will be led by current 40-44 national champion Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo), who did the double in Vermont last weekend over the Corner Cycles duo of Kevin Hines and defending series champion Jonny Bold.  All 3 of them will have to contend with former 2-time Elite National Champion Mark McCormack (Team Fuji), who always does well at Gloucester, and best of the rest from last weekend’s festivities Steve Proulx (Stevens Cycling), Curtis Boivin (Planet Bike), and Sean Groom (Squadra Coppi).  The Junior 15-18 field will have last weekend’s double winner Evan McNeely (EMD Sorono/Specialized) and his teammate Karl Hoppner in the field, who are 1-2 in the overall series after week 1.  But once again breathing down their neck will be Kiernan Orange (Ride with Rendall), and Josh Lehmann (Sunapee/S&W), making this weekend’s junior races something to look forward to as the best young talent take shape at the NECCS.

The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be contested over 7 weekends in 2009, starting with the New England Cross-toberfest of Cycling:  3 straights weekends of UCI calendar racing to be held in Williston VT, Gloucester MA, and Providence RI.  After a weekend of much needed rest, the series will continue with stops in New Gloucester ME on Oct 24, Northampton MA on Nov 7, Sterling MA on Nov 28, and the series finale in Warwick RI on Dec 5.  This year series is generously supported by Verge Sport, makers of fine cycling clothing and products since 1993; by Cycle-Smart, purveyors of personalized cycling coaching and solutions for riders across the country; by BikeReg.com, the official online registration service of the NECCS; by Paul Weiss Photo/Video, the official photographer of the NECCS, by October Handmade Bicycles, and by Ryders Eyewear.  You can visit these sponsors and get more information on the series by going to the web at http://www.cycle-smart.com/neccs.

2009 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Schedule:

• Green Mountain Cyclo-Cross Weekend – September 26th and 27th – Williston, Vermont
• Great Brewers Grand Prix of Gloucester – October 3rd and 4th – Gloucester, Massachusetts
• Providence Cyclo-Cross Festival – October 10th and 11th – Providence, Rhode Island
• Downeast Cyclo-Cross – October 24th and 25th – New Gloucester, Maine
• The Cycle-Smart International – November 7th and 8th – Northampton, Massachusetts
• Bay State Cyclo-Cross – November 28th and 29th – Sterling, Massachusetts
• NBX Grand Prix – December 5th and 6th – Warwick, Rhode Island