NASH, JOHNSON TAKE DAY ONE IN PROVIDENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2009
CONTACT:
Jeff Bramhall
Media Coordinator, Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
(617) 669-5056
jeffrey.bramhall@gmail.com

The return of cyclocross to Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI was marked by dominant performances by Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com).

Nash took the lead on the first lap of the race and quickly made sure that the race was going to be for second place. Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven-Notubes) took the silver medal with a long solo effort but was never able to get closer than ten seconds to Nash. Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs-RGM-Radix), and Pro Women rider Meredith Miller fought it out for the third step on the podium with Dombroski opening a gap in the woods just before the finishing straight. Local favorite, Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) beat out Giant Bicycles rider Kelli Emmett and Minuteman Road Club rider Andrea Smith for fifth.

In the men’s race, Johnson showed that his shoulder is well on the mend by picking up where he left off last Sunday in Gloucester. The Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com rider took the lead on the first lap and never let off the gas, eventually taking the victory by over a minute. Not to be outdone, his teammate Jamey Driscoll took a resounding second, powering up through the field after a slow start. Champion Systems rider Christopher Jones continued his breakout season in third, pulling away from a strong chase group with two to go. U-23 winner Jerome Townsend (BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / IF) pulled in fourth ahead of Nicholas Weighall (California Giant), Valentin Scherz (PRO CYCLES-SCOTT-NEWWORK) and Justin Spinelli (Svelte Cycles). Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs-RGM-Radix) finished 8th to maintain his overall series lead.

In the Master’s race, Johnny Bold (Corner Cycle) and Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) dueled at the front, leaving the rest of the race well behind them. Matched head to head, Bold was able to break away in the last wooded section of the course, pulling in nine seconds before Aspholm. In third was a hard-charging Jon Cariveau (Moots) from Colorado.

The U-19 race was the prizefight of the day with a three-up battle of young New England talent. Joshua Lehmann (Sunapee/S&W/Continental Paving Racing Team) took the holeshot and eventually settled into a group with Jesse Keough (CLNoonan/KAM/Coast to Coast) and Nate Morse (CLIF BAR Development Cyclocross Team). The three duked it out as a group until Keough turned up the pressure with one to go and soloed to victory. Morse held on for second with Lehmann in third.

The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will continue 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