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6 December 2005
Johnson and Bruno Roy Win Verge NECCS Elite Titles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Milliman Media Group
NECCS Coordinator
(603) 340-1580
media@necyclocross.com
 Six incredible courses took New England’s cyclo-cross scene from the sodden fields of Maine to the snow-blown beaches of Rhode Island. And in the closest points race in its history, Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) edged Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) for the Elite Men’s overall points title in the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart. Johnson brought a perilous 10-point lead into the last weekend of racing in Rhode Island and emerged with the same margin after the sixth and final race, the Caster’s Grand Prix in Warwick. Cementing his reputation as a New England ‘cross prodigy, Johnson ended McCormack’s two-year Verge NECCS reign despite the four-time defending champion winning the Warwick race in a thrilling sprint finish.
 With her back against the wall, Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) saved her best for last, winning the Warwick race and the overall Verge NECCS title in the process. Bruno Roy overtook absent Series leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) on the final day, but a finish outside the top three would have denied Bruno Roy the overall. A picture of consistency, Bruno Roy podiumed at five of the six Verge NECCS races, finishing second to Bessette on three occasions. Despite missing the final two races of the Series due to a European race trip Bessette still finished second overall.
"I couldn't be happier with how the Verge Series turned out this year,” said Adam Hodges Myerson, Verge NECCS President and owner of Cycle-Smart. “We had record turnouts from the riders, national-caliber elite fields at every race, and we brought in two new sponsors with Felt Bicycles and Greyhound Juice.”
A six-time National Champion, Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar) won his second consecutive Under-23 Series title and finished third overall in the Elite Men’s Series as well. With five wins in six races, Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle) dominated the Masters 35+ Series, winning the leader’s jersey for the second consecutive year. Kevin Hines (Gearworks-Spin Arts) won four of the last five Verge NECCS races to secure the Masters 45+ overall. Masters 55+ champion Phil Bannister (Putney-West Hill) was the only Series title winner to win every race he entered, going a perfect five-for-five.
A strong finish to the season catapulted Stan Jurga (Essex County Velo) into the leader’s jersey in the Men’s B race. Jurga won the WE Stedman Grand Prix on the final weekend, securing the Series title. Jerome Townsend (Bicycle Alley) won five of six races in Junior Men’s Series and took the overall title by a comfortable margin. Silas Anthony (Essex County Velo) won the Junior 15-16 overall jersey and Spencer Pero (BCA-VOMax) won the Cub Juniors title.
“We know that the Verge Series has the burden of being the standard bearer for regional 'cross series' in the US,” concluded Hodges Myerson. “If you look at the elite riders who made the top 10, you can see that it's truly national in scope, and serves as a type of "SuperPrestige" for us. Riders from Oregon, Michigan, and Canada took some of the top placings, so we're achieving our goal of attracting the best riders in North America to New England, while raising the game of the riders who call New England home."
2005 Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series, Presented by Cycle-Smart
Final Overall Series Standings
Elite Men
1. Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), 310
2. Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), 300
3. Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar), 184
4. Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai), 160
5. Matt White (FiordiFrutta), 146
6. Michael Cody (FiordiFrutta), 138
7. Erik Tonkin (Kona), 136
8. Tristan Schouten (Trek-VW), 126
9. Greg Reain (Stevens), 108
10. Matt Kraus (Alan Factory), 99
Elite Women
1. Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication), 227
2. Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), 200
3. Mackenzie Dickey (Bicycle Alley), 168
4. Amy Wallace (Verizon Wireless-Wheelworks), 137
5. Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks-SpinArts), 92
6. Tara Ross (Victory Brewing), 85
7. Pauline Frascone (Independent Fabrication), 81
8. Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M-Vanilla), 80
9. Marianne Stover (Independent Fabrication), 62
10. Anna Milkowski (Gearworks-SpinArts), 61
Under-23 Men: Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar)
B Men: Stan Jurga (Essex County Velo)
Juniors 17-18: Jerome Townsend (Bicycle Alley)
Juniors 15-16: Silas Anthony (Essex County Velo)
Cub Juniors: Spencer Pero (BCA-VOMax)
Masters 35+: Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle)
Masters 45+: Kevin Hines (Gearworks-SpinArts)
Masters 55+: Phil Bannister (Putney-West Hill)
The 2005 Verge NECCS is sponsored by Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines: Greyhound Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; Felt Bicycles, builders of the best bicycles in the world: BikeReg.com, the solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; and Litmus Designs, integrating web technology and graphic design solutions for your business needs.
Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
October 15 - Downeast Cyclo-Cross, New Gloucester, ME
November 12 - ChainBiter 7.0 Cyclo-Cross, Farmington, CT
November 13 - Cycle-Smart International Cyclo-Cross, Northampton, MA
November 26 - Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross, Sterling, MA
December 3 - W. E. Stedman Co. Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, S. Kingstown, RI
December 4 - Castor's Grand Prix, Warwick, RI
For more information on the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, including complete Series results, please go to www.necyclocross.com
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