Noble and Werner Get Muddy Wins in the Last0Ever Baystate UCI Cyclocross Race

The chase is on. Northcott leads, Bowman, Fahringer, Cutler, and Elliot behind. © Todd Prekaski

by Cindy Brennan

The conditions were perfect today for a legendary sendoff for Baystate Cyclocross Weekend, with melting snow, slush and mud covering the tricky course. The course that racers pre-rode wasn’t the course they raced; conditions changed rapidly through the day, and several difficult sections proved faster to run than ride, even for the Elite racers. Thick, slushy snow on the first half of the course limited racers to one narrow line through the course, meaning that a good start would be crucial for racers. All this added up to the last Baystate Cyclocross Weekend being one that racers and spectators will not soon forget.

What’s happening to the race? The race, at least in its current UCI form, will not continue next season according to Tom Stevens, Race Director of Baystate. However the legendary course designer, and one of the true founders of New England cyclocross, will surely have a hand in designing many of New England’s most renowned races for years to come.

An elated Ellen Noble wins her second ever UCI race, both this weekend at Baystate. © Todd Prekaski

Every racer hit the course today knowing they wanted to make their last Baystate meaningful. The Elite Women’s race began with Ellen Noble (JAM Fund/NCC) once again charging onto the tricky course, but hot on her heels were challengers Mo Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles), Elizabeth White (UVM Cycling), and Cassandra Maximenko (Rare Vos Racing/Van Dessel/PowerBar). Bruno Roy and White powered away to try to reel in Noble, with a huge chase forming behind them. Maximenko was joined by an all-star group including Brittlee Bowman (House Industries/SimpleHuman/Richard Sachs), Amanda Carey (Team Rhino Rush), Becca Fahringer (JAM Fund/NCC) and Emily Shields (Ken’s Bike Shop). As Noble’s gap grew, Bruno Roy pulled away from White hoping to close in on Noble. Noble’s lead only grew, but Bruno Roy was able to put a safe distance between herself and White in case of any trouble on the slippery, technical course. The chase was unable to bring back White, and Noble finished with her second win of the weekend over thirty seconds ahead of the closest chaser. Bruno Roy was next in second, with White in third. After plenty of shake-ups in the chase, Fahringer crashed out of the race, Shields crossed the line fourth, Bowman fifth, Maximenko sixth, and Carey seventh.

“It was fun to race in these conditions,” said Ellen Noble on her tremendous win today. “Everyone’s going to make mistakes in this. I told myself not to get nervous about it. If you panic, that’s when you make even more mistakes.” Noble’s ride helped her cement her overall and U23 Series lead

Mud and slush covered nearly the entire course today. © Todd Prekaski

The Elite Men were up next, and all the key players from yesterday’s race were in the mix again. Dan Timmerman (House Industries/SimpleHuman/Richard Sachs) hoped to retain his Series lead, with plenty of competition hoping to take the jersey during today’s historic race. Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com), Kerry Werner (Optum Pro Cycling Team), Christian Favata (TRT Bicycles), and Justin Lindine (Redline Factory/NBX) clung to Timmerman’s wheel as Travis Livermon (Mock Orange Pro CX) and Anthony Clark (JAM Fund/NCC) chased. Timmerman, Werner, and White each tried to get away from the group, repeatedly foiled by bobbles and slips on the slick, tricky course. Werner got clear as White chased, Timmerman and Favata behind. After Timmerman made his way up to White, who had a bike issue, he continued to charge with Werner in his sights. In the final lap, Werner had only a few seconds on Timmerman and the gap was shrinking, but Werner made it to the line first. “The whole last lap, I was on rails trying to hold Dan off,” Werner said of his hard-fought win. “I just put my head down and dug it out to the line.”

Werner leads White through the barriers. © Todd Prekaski

Timmerman claimed second and retained his Verge NECX Series leader’s jersey. White crossed the line third, Favata fourth, and Lindine fifth. The U23 Series leader, Scott Smith (JAM Fund/NCC) claimed his first UCI points and retained his series lead.

Next week, the Verge New England Cyclocross Series finale unfolds on the rooty, sandy course at the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross. Season-long battles in fourteen categories culminate with one final weekend of exciting racing in Warwick, RI. The Elite races will be broadcast live on gnarlymonkey.com and tweeted live from @VergeNECXS.

2014 Baystate Women's Elite Race Day Two

2014 Baystate Men's Elite Race Day Two