Andrea Smith took the win in the second stage of the NECCS. © laurakozlowski.com
The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart returns from a few weeks’ break with the Downeast Cyclocross Weekend at scenic Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine. With clear skies expected, a repeat of last year’s mudfest is not in the cards, but the racing will be top notch. Despite many of the big national names spending the weekend in Kentucky, the depth of the New England cyclocross scene will be highlighted as many racers who will be at the front of national competition are staying near home and making the trip to Maine.
Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) will be defending the Elite Women’s series jersey in Maine. Smith will be trying to outgun her teammates Crystal Anthony, Ann D’Ambruoso and Christina Tamilio, who currently account for four of the top five overall. The Crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles cartel of Sara Bresnick-Zocchi and Sally Annis will be hoping to take the top step and bring the series lead home with them. For the Elite Men, it will be a battle of some of the best regional racers who are poised to make a jump to the national stage as Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Scott) will look to don the leader’s jersey Saturday night. Along with Lindine, Series President, Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart) will be looking to pull in a victory in a UCI race, but may just be happy to not take a mid-race shoe change like last year. Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s) has his sights set on a second UCI podium of the season.
What may be the best race to watch this weekend will be the regrouping of Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo), Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle) and Kevin Hines (Corner Cycle) in the 35+ Masters race. These three, normally inseparable during ’cross season, have had a couple weekends apart and always bring their best when going head-to-head.
Stay tuned for more cyclocross news from the Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series by following the series on Twitter @VergeNECCS and 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.
