Natasha Elliott shows off cyclocross joy. © Paul Weiss
The skies opened up and turned the normally fast, hilly, mostly grass course into a slippery tractionless mudfest, answering the prayers of local boy Tim Johnson (CyclocrossWorld – Cannondale). Sloppy conditions in front of his hometown crowd after a week of rest? It seemed like a Tim Johnson win would be a good bet.
In previous years, it might be. But this year, Planet Bike’s Jonathan Page extended his stay in the States to take in some racing close to his home state of New Hampshire. Page also thrives in muddy conditions, having won three national championships in a row in Napa, Calif. and Portland, Ore. in some of the muddiest conditions Nationals has ever seen. After some showing some great fitness in a few weeks of U.S. racing but with far too many third places (five) than he’d like, partly due to mechanicals at the Planet Bike Cup, Page was on a mission to regain the top step of the podium he enjoyed at the Rad Racing GP.
Jonathan Page and Tim Johnson on the run-up on lap 1. © Paul Weiss
The two favorites wasted no time getting to the front in attempt to control the race and get a boost from the cheers of their local fans. After a holeshot Nick Keough (Champion Sysyem), Page and Johnson quickly distanced the field, emerging from the run-up with a few seconds gap. Page pushed the pace, accelerating out of every slippery corner, with Johnson hanging on. Johnson skipped the Planet Bike Cup the previous weekend in attempt to let his shoulder recover from his crash at Star Crossed. Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), Jamey Driscoll (CyclocrossWorld – Cannondale) gave chase with Davide Frattini (Fuji) in tow.
Johnson would yo-yo off Page’s wheel as they snaked around the course for the first time, but with just one lap down, Page was gone and riding at a different level. It was not going to be Johnson’s day, or anyone else’s.
Driscoll and Johnson would try to work together to bring back Page, but the Planet Bike rider was on a mission and Johnson couldn’t hold even Driscoll’s pace. Are we seeing a changing of the guard on the CyclocrossWorld – Cannondale team? Soon Driscoll would drop his teammate, leaving him to ride with Jacques-Maynes in a battle for third. Behind, Chris Jones (Champion Systems) was surging through the group, making time on the pavement and flats and moving from outside the top ten towards Johnson.
Page running away at the barriers. Find more videos like this on Cyclocross Magazine
Just two laps into the race, Page had a 24 second gap, and with every lap, would add more than ten seconds to his lead. It was a horsepower race… tactics had little place given the conditions. Driscoll would ride alone chasing in vain, but securing a second place.
Tim Johnson splashes down in the mud. © Paul Weiss
Behind, Johnson was clearly still feeling the effects of his separated shoulder that he suffered two weekends ago in Washington, and was absorbed by Jacques-Maynes. A resurgent Chris Jones was also moving up quickly, and soon the three had come together, all vying for the final spot on the podium. Johnson spent much of the time at the back of the group, and looked to be the man most in danger of falling off, but an attack by Chris Jones was only successful in ridding the group of Jacques-Maynes, much to the surprise of many. Further pressure was applied by Jones over the final half lap, and he hit the pavement with a defensible gap over Johnson, who was still off his usual form. Jacques-Maynes was easily able to hold on to fifth on the day.
With his back-to-back days of last lap bad luck, Page didn’t get off the gas despite an ever-growing gap well over a minute, and would cross the line for the win with 90 seconds in hand. Driscoll took second, while Jones surged late to drop Johnson and take a surprising third as Johnson rolled in for fourth.
Joachim Parbo (CCV – Leopard) overcame a slow start to move up to sixth, behind Jacques-Maynes, while Luke Keough (Champion Systems) had an impressive ride as a first-year U23 to take eighth behind Jesse Anthony (Jamis).
With the win, Page takes the NACT series leader’s jersey, but won’t be able to defend it after this weekend as he returns to Europe.
Canadians Steal New England Worlds
Natasha Elliott runs the muddy turn. © Paul Weiss
With Kaite Compton (Planet Bike) in Europe resting for Sunday’s World Cup in Treviso, Italy, and the Luna trio of Gould, Nash and Dunlap skipping the weekend, the women’s race was wide open. Two Canadians in Natasha Elliott (Club Chaussure Ogilvy) and the semi-unretired Lyne Bessette (October Factory Racing) were out to seize this opportunity to steal the “New England Worlds” title, but so was the relatively anonymous Amanda Carey (Kenda) from Idaho. Carey wasn’t just content to follow wheels of her more-famous competitors, but would put in several attacks at the front.
While Sue Butler (MonavieCannodale.com) and Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) battled early with the two Canadians and Carey, the initial pace was too much and both would fall victim to the attacks by Bessette, Carey and Elliott at the front. Each would create a gap in attempt to avoid a sprint, but each time it would come back together. With half a lap to go, it was Carey who would make her final attack for the win. Carey was successful in shedding Bessette, who had burned one too many match earlier in the race. Carey was not able to distance Elliot, who was wearing the leader’s jersey for the Verge New England Cyclocross Championship Series. Elliot fought to stay on Carey’s wheel, and made a final push for the line as the two entered the race’s final technical section. Elliot’s attack finally cracked the tenacious Carey, and Elliot was able to hold her gap all the way to the line, taking her second win in the Verge series of the season. Elliot now carries solid form ahead of next weekend’s Canadian National Championships where she looks to be a hot favorite. Behind, Carey finished up a career race with second place, and Bessette rolled in shortly thereafter in third.
Elite Women winners with mud and all. © Paul Weiss
Behind the leading three, Sue Butler, who had taken the holeshot on the day, and Maureen Bruno Roy, victor at the second day of the Verge NECCS series in Vermont, were hanging close behind, after spending much of the race in the leading group. As was the case with most riders, it was the accelerations of Carey that proved to be Butler and Bruno Roy’s undoing. Butler and Bruno Roy battled back and forth both trying to catch the leaders and gap the other. Eventually it was Bruno Roy who was able to get the better of Butler, earning her a fourth place finish, while Butler would have to settle for fifth.
Relive the racing action with our live coverage replay, and tune in tomorrow for live coverage of the UCI World Cup in Treviso as well as the Gran Prix of Gloucester Day 2. Full results below.
Photo Gallery:
Results:
Women:
1. Natasha Elliott Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy in 0:34:58
2. Amanda Carey Kenda/trainwitheric.com in 0:35:02
3. Lyne Bessette October Factory Racing in 0:35:10
4. Maureen Bruno Roy Mm Racing P/b Seven Cycles in 0:35:15
5. Susan Butler Monavie-Cannondale.com in 0:35:23
6. Laura Van Gilder C3 Athletes Serving Athletes in 0:36:05
7. Andrea Smith Minuteman Road Club in 0:36:12
8. Nicole Thiemann Human Zoom Pabst Blue Ribbon in 0:36:31
9. Amy Dombroski Richard Sachs/rgm Watches/radix in 0:36:53
10. Rebecca Wellons Team Plan C in 0:37:07
11. Anna Milkowski Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If in 0:37:10
12. Kristin Gavin Human Zoom/pabst Blue Ribbon in 0:37:15
13. Sara Bresnick-Zocchi Pedalpowercoaching.com/landry’s Bicycles in 0:37:49
14. Gesa Bruechman Stevens Racing Team in 0:37:52
15. Karen Potter Zanconato in 0:37:56
16. Crystal Anthony Minuteman Road Club in 0:38:17
17. Cris Rothfuss Seven Cycles in 0:38:18
18. Anna Barensfeld Minuteman Road Club in 0:38:22
19. Sally Annis Hub Racing in 0:38:46
20. Linnea Koons October Factory Racing in 0:39:08
21. Perri Mertens Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy in 0:39:28
22. Lauri Webber Secret Henry’s Team in 0:39:46
23. Ann D’ambruoso Minuteman Road Club in 0:39:54
24. Arielle Filliberti in 0:40:16
25. Katrina (trina) Baumsteiger Team Rambuski Law in 0:40:23
26. Anna Mcloon Altarum Women’s Cycling Team in 0:40:26
27. Emma Bast Cycle-Smart / Ncc in 0:40:40
28. Rebecca Blatt Us Army/ Central Wheel in 0:40:43
29. Kate Harris October Factory Racing in 0:41:11
30. Sarah Krzysiak Syracuse Bicycle/spokepost.com in 0:41:58
31. Melissa Ross Landry’s Bicycles in 0:42:27
32. Christina Tamilio Minuteman Road Club in 0:42:48
33. Callie Gordon Cyclocrossworld.com in 0:43:32
34. Kristine Church Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon in 0:44:05
35. Natalie Dumont Gearworks / Spinarts in 0:44:30
Men:
1. Jonathan Page Planet Bike in 0:55:44
2. Jamey Driscoll Bikereg.com / Cannondale in 0:57:31
3. Christopher Jones in 0:58:00
4. Timothy Johnson Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com in 0:58:10
5. Andy Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling in 0:58:38
6. Joachim Parbo Ccv Leopard Cycles in 0:59:19
7. Jesse Anthony Jamis Bicycles in 0:59:36
8. Luke Keough Clnoonan/kam/coast To Coast in 0:59:43
9. Tim Van Nuffel Rendementhypo Cycling Team in 0:59:49
10. Jeremy Powers Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com in 1:01:04
11. Jerome Townsend Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If in 1:01:07 1
12. Davide Frattini Team Fuji in 1:01:10
13. Osmond Bakker Emd Serono-Specialized in 1:01:41
14. William Dugan Team Type 1 in 1:01:44 2
15. Derrick St John Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy in 1:01:56
16. Dave Hackworthy Plan C in 1:02:07 3
17. Adam Myerson Team Mountain Khakis in 1:02:07
18. Dylan Mcnicholas Ccb Racing in 1:02:45
19. Ethan Gilmour in 1:02:56 4
20. Dan Timmerman Bikereg.com/cannondale in 1:03:31
21. Justin Lindine Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If in 1:03:48
22. Joshua Dillon Richard Sachs – Rgm Watches – Radix in 1:04:07
23. Gavin Mannion Hot Tubes Junior Development Team in 1:04:27
24. Christian Favata Favata’s Tablerock Tours And Bikes in 1:04:34
25. Andrew Wulfkuhle C3-Athletes Serving Athletes in 1:04:53
26. Mike Garrigan La Biccletta in 1:05:09
27. Hugo Rus Martinez Sanse-Spiuh in 1:05:29
28. Justin Spinelli Svelte Cycles in 1:05:37
29. Nathaniel Ward Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If in 1:06:01
30. Patrick Bradley Rutgers University Cycling Team in 1:06:33 5
31. Andrew Crooks Nyc Velo in 1:06:46
32. Aroussen Laflamme Garneau-Clubchaussures-Ogylviereneault in 1:07:25
33. Richard Visinski Echappe Equipment Elite Team @ 1 lap
34. Emmanuel Goguen Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If @ 1 lap
35. John Burns Bikeman.com @ 1 lap
36. Corey Lowe Stage 1 / Cannondale @ 1 lap
37. Philip Wong Seaside Cycle @ 1 lap
38. Wayne Bray Syracuse Bicycle / Spokepost.com @ 1 lap
39. Colin Reuter International Bicycle Mtb Team @ 1 lap
40. Michael Loranty Spooky/wells Fargo @ 1 lap
41. Peter Bradshaw Embrocation Cycling Journal @ 1 lap
42. Mathew Ankney Mercy Cycling Team @ 1 lap
43. Kevin Wolfson Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage / If @ 1 lap
44. John Hanson If/lionette’s @ 1 lap
45. Peter Hurst Rapha Racing @ 1 lap
46. Thierry Laliberte Probikepool / Kuota @ 1 lap
47. William Elliston Van Dessel Factory Team @ 1 lap
48. Joshua Bartlett Land Rover-Orbea @ 1 lap
49. Ted Willard Team Bearclaw @ 1 lap
50. Ryan Kelly Noreast Cycling @ 1 lap
51. Bill Marshall Jr Mercy Elite Cycling @ 1 lap
52. J Gabriel Lloyd Echappe Equipment Elite Team @ 1 lap
53. Matthew Green Spooky Bikes in @ 1 lap
54. Matthew Spohn Dynaflo Racing @ 2 laps
55. Michael Norton Ysg Racing: Team Metra/wendy’s P/b Cycle 54 @ 2 laps
56. Daniel Zotter Team Rog @ 3 laps
