Van Gilder and Keough Sweep Cycle-Smart International Weekend – UPDATED: Photo Gallery

Luke Keough takes his second win of the weekend © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

Northampton, Massachusetts – The 20th annual Cycle-Smart International concluded this afternoon with sweeps by yesterday’s victors. Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) and Luke Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) pulled in victories in impressive fashion in front of large and cheering crowds in Northampton, Massachusetts. The sixth round of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series in Northampton featured a similar course to Saturday’s fifth round, complete with a long off-camber climb, steep drop-off and some of the fastest sweeping grass turns New England has to offer.

For Van Gilder, it was another hard-fought victory out of an extremely strong group of racers.

Early on, Sally Annis attacked repeatedly, but Van Gilder wouldn’t let her get away © Natalia Boltukhova | Pedal Power Photography

From the beginning an elite leading group formed of Van Gilder, series leader Sally Annis (crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles), Annis’s teammate Sara Bresnick-Zocchi, Maureen Bruno-Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles) and Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing). Annis was active through the first part of the race, attacking constantly in attempt to break free but never making much of a gap. Her efforts cost her a chance at victory as the gambles burnt her matches, and Annis was left to chase, eventually finishing fifth.

At the front, Van Gilder never seemed in danger, comfortably closing down gaps, forcing her competitors to ride perfectly. A slight bobble in the sand pit between Bruno-Roy and Bresnick-Zocchi was all Van Gilder needed as she made them pay for their mistake, immediately opening a gap just a little too big to be bridged. As Van Gilder crossed the line, soloing in for her second victory on the weekend, the battle for second raged on. Bresnick-Zocchi, knowing her best chance for second place was to hit the pavement first led her competition through the last series of turns, giving no space to pass. They came into the finishing straight with Bresnick-Zocchi leading, Smith second wheel and Bruno-Roy third and that’s how it stayed across the line. Smith’s third place, combined with Annis’s fifth was good enough to bring series leadership back to the Ladies First racer’s shoulders.

It took several laps for the Elite Men’s race to have a selection made. The course’s fast track lent itself to drafting and the wind of the day meant racers were less likely to take risks for fear of being caught out alone. The first group at the front was Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Dylan McNicholas (Pedro’s), Luca Damiani (El Gato CX), Justin Lindine (bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Luke Keough (Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross). McNicholas and Damiani kept the pace high with Myerson leading through the technical sections of the course.

In a replay of Saturday, Damiani and Keough at the front © Natalia Boltukhova

The group held together tight for the first half of the race until McNicholas, then Myerson, began to dangle off the back and eventually lost contact. The group, reduced to three, was moving away quickly with all three evenly matched and determined to take the victory. It wasn’t until Lindine stacked a tight corner, taking Damiani down, that Keough was able to get away. Both crashed riders were back up quickly, but the El Gato racer’s leg was badly cut, forcing him to abandon. As he made a bike change, Myerson and McNicholas absorbed Lindine. The three tried in earnest to bring back the Champion System rider, but to no avail because, as anyone who has raced bikes in New England knows, once a Keough can taste victory, there’s not much that can stop him from achieving it. Keough’s second victory on the weekend came 25 seconds ahead of the sprint for the rest of the podium. Adam Myerson unleashed a finishing kick that left Lindine standing still to pick up his first-ever podium at the race he promotes.

McNicholas, a victim of some rough luck on the final lap, came across the line a few seconds back for fourth. Fifth place went to Nick Keough (Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross) who maintained his lead in the U-23 competition.

With the conclusion of the 20th edition of the Cycle-Smart International, the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will take two weekends off and resume in Sterling, MA, for rounds 7 and 8. This year’s edition of Bay State Cyclcross will double as the NACT series finale and will once again be a showcase to the nation of the essence of New England cyclocross.

Women’s Photo Gallery:

Men’s Photo Gallery:

Full Results:

Elite Men

Elite Women