Anthony and Gagne Win on Day One of the 23rd Annual Cycle-Smart International – Report, Photos, Results

Gagne took Milne at the line for the win. © Todd Prekaski

by Cindy Brennan

Racers in 14 categories took to a newly re-designed course on first day of racing at the 23rd annual Cycle-Smart International today. The oldest UCI cyclocross race in the country is rounds 5 & 6 of the prestigious Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge, and rounds 7 & 8 of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series, the premier amateur points competition in the US.

Adam Myerson runs the Cycle-Smart stairs. © Todd Prekaski

CSI offers a special special atmosphere for racers, their families, and spectators. Aside from a world-class race course with top-notch racing, CSI featured a kid’s race organized by the local Northampton Cycling Club on a special course conveniently located beside a bouncy house. A beer and food tent, offering local brews from High & Mighty Brewing, benefited promising young cyclists through the JAM Fund. Stephen Hyde (JAM Fund/NCC/Vittoria), sadly sidelined due to a knee injury, was working hard serving up fries and cold beverages at the JAM Fund tent all day to benefit future generations of JAM Fund recipients. Plenty of food trucks kept spectators happily fed as they cheered for their favorites in the Elite races.

Elite Women

The group that tried to hunt down Anthony, with Kemmerer and Van Gilder leading the charge. © Todd Prekaski

In the Elite Women’s race, Crystal Anthony (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits) quickly took the helm, showing her trademark calmness as a star-studded chase group formed to hunt her down. In the group was Arley Kemmerer (C3-Twenty 20 Cycling), freshly back from a very successful stint racing with the best of the best in Europe, looked sure to be dominant in today’s racing.

Maghalie Rochette leads teammate Emma White through a corner. © Todd Prekaski

Right there with her was Laura Van Gilder (Van Dessel p/b Mellow Mushroom Pizza), teammates Emma White and Maghalie Rochette (Cyclocrossworld.com), Natasha Elliott (Rare Vos Racing/Stevens), and Amanda Carey (Stan’s No Tubes Elite).

Laura Van Gilder leads the charge. © Todd Prekaski

In a demonstration of her power, Anthony only solidified her lead despite the efforts of a well-organized chase. Van Gilder bested Kemmerer in the final stretch in an explosive sprint, deciding the second and third place spots.

Calm and steady was how Anthony rode her race today. © Todd Prekaski

Elite Men

In the Elite Men’s race, Mike Garrigan (Van Dessel Factory Team) took the lead in the first lap with one of his characteristic strong starts, followed by Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Factory), Jeremy Durrin (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits), Dan Timmerman (House Industries-Richard Sachs-RGM), Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), and Evan McNeely (Norco Factory Team).

Garrigan leading with Durrin on his wheel. © Todd Prekaksi

Gagne attacked early and often, pressuring the group to chase repeatedly. Meanwhile, Shawn Milne (Keough Cyclocross p/b Felt Bicycles) bridged from the chase group to connect with the leaders, proceeding to do his fair share of the work to bring Gagne’s attacks back – and then launching some of his own. Durrin suffered a front flat, and the leaders’ repeated attacks had them moving at such a fast clip that Durrin was unable to reconnect with the lead group.

Adam Myerson started CSI when he was just 19, and is still racing it 23 years later. Myerson finished seventh today. © Todd Prekaski

The group leaders disintegrated under the pressure in the final two laps, leaving Gagne, Garrigan, Milne, McNeely and White in a loosely-formed group to battle for the win. Milne attacked, gaining a significant advantage until Gagne put in a tremendous surge. After an over-the-handlebars crash in the woods, Gagne astounded the crowds by reconnecting with Milne and beating the crit racer in a pavement sprint at the line. Check out our profile of Gagne’s Rocky Mountain bike here.

Curtis White bridged to the leaders, attacked, and went right through them. © Todd Prekaski

In the Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge points competition, wins today from Raphael Gagne and Crystal Anthony have them gaining on the current series leaders. Should both win tomorrow, they will be fewer than five points off of the leaders and the series purse, and would hit the start line at the NEPCX finale weekend at the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross knowing the series purse was within reach. Maghalie Rochette retains her lead in the U23 women’s division, while McNeely positioned himself to be within striking distance of the U23 men’s category.

Gagne took Milne at the line for the win. © Todd Prekaski

Watch for live race updates on Twitter from @VergeNECXS for the amateur races and @NEproCX for the Elite races. Stay tuned for links to the live streaming video coverage of the race from Gnarly Monkey here starting at 2 pm EST!

Women Elite NEPCX #5 - The Cycle-Smart International (USA_2) 2013

Men Elite NEPCX #5 - The Cycle-Smart International (USA_C2) 2013