Cloudy Day 2 of NCGP Finds Clear Paths to Pro CX Victories for Kemmerer and Livermon

North Carolina hosted the final races on the East Coast for the 2016-17 USA Cycling Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX) on Sunday with the Hunter Subaru North Carolina Grand Prix (NCGP). This was the 11th year for the NCGP at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, N.C.

Kemmerer Victorious in Elite Women’s C2 – NCGP Day 2

Day 2 of the Women’s Elite UCI C2 race was ruled by Arley Kemmerer (Fearless Femme Racing), taking the line unchallenged for her third Pro CX win of the season.

“I was surprised by the difficulty of the course today,” said Kemmerer, who came into NCGP weekend ranked 10th overall on the Pro CX Elite Women’s individual standings. “It had a lot of tight, twisting turns, but also a lot of power sections. The turns and run-ups were made much more challenging and decisive because of the freeze-thaw on the surface, which was great practice, because I expect to see similar conditions at Nationals in Hartford.”

Cassandra Maximenko (Van Dessel Factory Team) improved from her third-place performance on Saturday at Jackson Park to take the second step of the podium on Sunday. Third was secured by Rutherford College (N.C.) rider Hannah Arensmen.

It was a second podium finish in back-to-back events for Arensman, who placed third last weekend at Major Taylor ‘Cross Cup in Indianapolis. Arensman turned heads in January when she was the top junior in the inaugural USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship event for Under-23 women.

NCGP Day 2 Elite Women’s podium: Arley Kemmerer (first), Cassandra Maximenko (second), Hannah Arensman (third). © Laura Rice

Under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it was Julie Wright (Team Averica) who took the holeshot. The field started to stretch out early, with Crystal Anthony (Boulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo) taking the lead coming through the pits on the second time at the flyover on the twisting course. She had opened a small gap over the 29-rider field on the second lap, with Rebecca Fahringer (Amy D. Foundation) and Kemmerer trying to close.

By the final lap, it was Kemmerer who had secured a sizeable lead, going uncontested with arms outstretched to the line. Anthony relinquished her early lead after a crash, but would finish 55 seconds back for a solid fourth place.

“(I am) very happy to end the regular season on such a high note,” Kemmerer added. “I am also very excited to carry that momentum to Nationals.”

Livermon Takes First Win Ahead of Werner

For the Elite Men, the final scrimmage in the Blue Ridge Mountains was led by Kerry Werner (KONA Factory) from the bell lap, taking charge at the signature climb at Jackson Park, The Wall. It came down to a duel on the final lap between Werner and Travis Livermon (Astellas Cycling Team), with Livermon making his move before the final pavement section and taking his first Pro CX win of the year.

NCGP Tristan Cowie leads over the flyover. © Laura Rice

After the first circuit, Werner had four riders nipping at his heels – Livermon, Saturday’s winner Tristan Cowie (Triple Oaks Racing), Dan Timmerman (Stan’s NoTubes Elite) and Byron Rice (Storm Racing Team). With three laps to go, Werner and Livermon began to distance themselves from Cowie and Rice, making the final selection. Cowie battled it out with Rice for the final podium spot, with the Brevard, N.C. native securing third.

The Pro CX concludes Dec. 11 with events at the Hunter Subaru North Carolina Grand Prix in Hendersonville, N.C. and the Resolution Cross Cup in Garland, Texas. This year’s Pro CX featured 42 scoring events across 16 states.

2016 NCGP - North Carolina Gran Prix Day 2 Results - Elite Women

2016 NCGP - North Carolina Gran Prix Day 2 Results - Elite Men