Fahringer, Maher Claim Vittoria Series Titles with NBX Day 2 Wins – Report

The 2019 Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series wrapped up with race number six on Sunday with the second day of the NBX Gran Prix of ’Cross. Elite racers competed for UCI Category 2 points in USA Cycling’s Pro Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX) and for the coveted Verge leader jersey in the Vittoria Series.

On the iconic rooted and icy New England course, riders endured cold temperatures and winds off the ocean at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, R.I.

Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) secured her fourth consecutive Vittoria Series race win in the elite women’s race. Lane Maher (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) powered away to another solo UCI victory.

For the Vittoria Series overall, Fahringer took her second Vittoria Series title with 200 points. Maher secured the leader’s jersey for the elite men’s competition with 170 points.

The Elite Women kick off the last race of the 2019 Vittoria Series. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Fahringer Wraps Up Title with Sunday Win

Fahringer, with a strong start, established early control of the race.

“I really focused on trying to have a better start today,” noted Fahringer. “Actually, at some point, Arley [Kemmerer] told me to slot in, because it was like she and I were going at it, and she was like ‘just go.’ So I had a better start and took the lead within the first start loop and I was pretty happy about that. I led for a while, about a lap, and then Lizzy took it back. I was just able to hammer it on every power section and slowly, slowly, gap her off.”

Lizzy Gunsalus leads at the barriers early on. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Fahringer would finish in 46 minutes and 36 seconds, 42 seconds ahead of 17-year-old Lizzy Gunsalus (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld).

No T-Rex on Sunday as Rebecca Fahringer celebrates her win. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Gunsalus, claimed her second-career UCI podium on Sunday, after leading the race with Fahringer. “I kind of just stuck on her wheel as long as I possibly could,” said Gunsalus. “That was about, I don’t know, I’d say about 50 to 60 percent of the race. We established a pretty good gap and then I finished, I think, within a minute of her at the end of the day and she was just stronger than me today.”

U23 Pan-American Champion Ruby West (Pivot Maxxis P/B Stans NoTubes) finished 3rd, 1 minute and 51 seconds behind Fahringer. “It kind of just felt like a time trial today,” observed West. “I had a pretty bad start and just missed the group and then I think I was just kind of chasing from there so it made for a very long day by myself which was tough on such a windy and open course.”

Ruby West finished third on Sunday. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Maher Victorious in Vittoria Series

In the elite men’s race, Maher would ride away with the race for a second day. “It was similar to yesterday,” said Maher. “We did one more lap, so I guess the laps were a little bit faster so I got away maybe lap 2 or 3 and yesterday was on the first lap so a little less time out by myself.”

Sam Noel and Nick Lando got off to a fast start on Sunday. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Sam Noel (Comp Edge Racing/UVM Cycling) would work to keep Maher in sight after a solid start with teammate Nick Lando (Comp Edge Racing / UVM Cycling), who led the early laps of the race.

“After yesterday, Nick and I kind of came into today with a plan,” said Noel. “And we were up in the front with Lane just trying to control the race more than yesterday. Unfortunately, Nick crashed, I think on the second lap in the snow under the bridge and that kind of left Lane and I. Then Lane attacked and I couldn’t go with him but still raced as hard as I could.” Noel finished 1 minute and 5 seconds behind Maher.

Lane Maher took home the Sunday win and Vittoria Series overall. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

Making the early group was Ben Gomez Villafane (Squid Bikes). He would go on to finish third after losing contact with the leaders as the race broke apart.

“I made quite a few mistakes during the race,” said Gomez Villafane. “But yeah, it just got spread out really fast, a little faster than yesterday. I think that was due to that some sections were a little more drawn out with power and then at race pace it was a lot more technical than it was during pre-ride. I feel like since it got a little warmer, the ground thawed a little bit, so it got a little slippery.”

Ben Gomez Villafane had a wheelie nice weekend, finishing third on Sunday. 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2. © Angelica Dixon

See below for full results and mini highlights from Sunday’s race. Final Vittoria Series standings are also available online.

Elite Women Results: 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross Day 2

Elite Men Results: 2019 NBX Gran Prix of Cross Day 2