Van Gilder, Keough Take Victories in Northampton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2010
CONTACT:
Jeff Bramhall
Media Coordinator, Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
(617) 669-5056
jeffrey.bramhall@gmail.com

What began as a cold and wet morning blossomed into another beautiful fall day in New England as the Cycle-Smart International came back to Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts for its 20th anniversary. In keeping with custom, today’s fifth round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart gave a record crowd a course that required consistent power but also deft handling skills. Much the same as in New Gloucester two weeks ago, Saturday’s racing was action packed with a tense atmosphere as the crowds rushed around the course to catch all the action.

Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) came back to New England for the second time this season and notched yet another win for her impressive resume. The world’s top-ranked woman started in an elite group with her teammate Arley Kemmerer, Sally Annis (crossrestuls.com p/b JRA Cycles) and Maureen Bruno-Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles). As the race developed, Kemmerer began to fall off the pace, leaving Annis, Van Gilder and Bruno-Roy to contest at the front. Each racer took their risks to create space but, as Bruno-Roy said, it was a race of mistakes. The mistake that made the decision came with two to go when Bruno-Roy and Annis both bobbled the steep ride-up, giving Van Gilder the edge she needed to take her victory. Behind, Annis had lost time to Bruno-Roy and put forth a fevered chase, eventually making contact and riding away, coming across the line solo for second, leaving Bruno-Roy third. With yet another UCI podium and previous series leader Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) coming across fifth, Annis was able to pull on the illustrious Verge NECCS leader’s jersey.

The Elite Men saw yet another great fight for victory, this time between Luke Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) and Luca Damiani (El Gato CX). The two leaders were trading barbs for much of the race with Damiani turning himself inside out in attempt to drop the Champion System racer. With three laps to go, Damiani was able to find some space, Keough managed to bring him back and the two rode a false tempo until the final lap when once again Damiani was on the attack, trying to lock the victory in the final sets of corners, but Keough was glued to the wheel, able to taste victory. The two hit the pavement together and Keough had the kick to pick up his first ever UCI victory. Damiani once again finished just a few pedal strokes from victory. The podium was rounded out with a second Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross racer in Nick Keough who outkicked an elite chase group including Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Weston Schempf (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes), Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Jerome Townsend (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott). With his sixth place, Lindine maintained his control on the Elite series jersey while Nick Keough held onto his jersey in the U-23 series. This being the 20th edition of the race, both of the Keoughs on the elite podium are younger than the race itself.

Racing continues on Sunday as Annis will try to prove that Van Gilder is beatable in New England while Andrea Smith will fight to take back the jersey. Luca Damiani will try to break the curse of constant runners up and finally show New England the good Luz Show.

Stay tuned for more cyclocross news from the Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series by following the series on Twitter @VergeNECCS and also on Facebook.

The 2010 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be contested over five weekends. Rounds one and two will take place in Williston, VT at the Green Mountain Cyclocross Weekend on September 18 and 19. Rounds three and four will be Downeast Cyclocross in New Gloucester, Maine on October 23 and 24. The 20th Edition of the Cycle-Smart International will be rounds five and six on November 6 and 7 in Northampton, MA. Bay State Cyclocross and the NBX GP of Cross will hold the final four rounds of the series in Sterling, MA on November 28 and 29 and in Warwick, RI on December 4 and 5, respectively. This year’s series is generously supported by Verge Sport, makers of fine cycling clothing and products since 1993; by Bob’s Red Mill, producers of whole grain foods for every meal of the day; 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 Pedal Power Photography, the official photographer of the NECCS; by crossresults.com, the internet’s premier race result and ranking resource; by Challenge, makers of professional level tubulars and open tubulars, by the Northampton Cycling Club Youth Development Program, helping to bring the champions of the future to the sport of bicycle racing. and by Ryders Eyewear, sport-specific and performance eyewear.

2010 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Schedule:

  • Green Mountain Cyclo-Cross Weekend – September 18th and 19th – Williston, Vermont
  • Downeast Cyclo-Cross – October 23rd and 24th – New Gloucester, Maine
  • The Cycle-Smart International – November 6th and 7th – Northampton, Massachusetts
  • Bay State Cyclo-Cross – November 27th and 28th – Sterling, Massachusetts
  • NBX Grand Prix – December 4th and 5th – Warwick, Rhode Island