New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series - Second Weekend Promises More Classic Racing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2007
CONTACT:
Steve Frothingham
(603) 651-6234
steve@crossnut.com

The second weekend of the 2007 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series returns November 3-4 with a double serving of action at Saturday's Chainbiter 8.0 in Farmington, Conn. and Sunday's 17th Annual Cycle-Smart International in Northampton, Mass. Saturday's Chainbiter offers the most diverse course of the Verge NECCS, including notorious sandpits, a leg-blasting climb, and the soul-crushing uphill paved finish stretch, race director Jan Tanner said.

"It's a rythmic course, it's a powerful course," Tanner said. "It's a very fast course with very few recovery areas. The weather forecast is pretty spectacular and the pre-registration numbers are up, so we are predicting a great race."

Sunday's Cycle-Smart International features Northampton's two-tiered Look Park course. The course favors riders who can maintain momentum and use a deft braking touch through the upper tree section while pumping out maximum power on the lower fields.

The race is the oldest UCI-sanctioned 'cross race in the U.S., noted race director Adam Myerson.

"This is the 17th year of the race, and it's been a UCI event since the late 90's. We're not trying to be the biggest race, we just focus on having a great course and an event that is fun for regular racers and the elites."
The weekend promises a vigorous battle for the series leaders jerseys.

In the Elite Mens competition, Jamis's Jesse Anthony -- just 23 but with a 'cross resume as long as a New England winter -- will have to withhold a challenge from NERAC's Chris Jones, who is in just his second season of cyclocross.

Jones has racked up five 3rd places at UCI events this fall, and is eager to take a couple steps up the podium, and perhaps take the Verge jersey away from Anthony.

"I need to beat Jesse both days to take the jersey, so that's my plan. It looks like it will be fast and dry, so that plays to my strengths," Jones said.

In the Elite Womens race, series leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) is coming off a difficult stretch of travel and racing. The Canadian star will have to defend her jersey against challenges from eager New Englanders including Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella/Kona), Rebecca Wellons (Ridley), and Maureen Bruno-Roy (Independent Fab/Wheelworks).

The Elite U23 race should feature a battle between University of Vermont's Will Dugan (CCB-Volkswagen) and Jamie Driscoll (Fiordi Frutta). They might be teammates in collegiate races, but in UCI races they go head to head.

In Junior U19 competition, Gavin Mannion (Hot Tubes) plans to challenge series leader Luke Keough for the leaders jersey. Mannion will have his hands full with Luke's C.L.Noonan/Coast to Coast teamates Jesse Keough and Paul Lynch.

The Masters 35+ race will once again feature a battle between the series leaders: the tireless Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle), Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) and Kevin Hines(Bike Link). Hines is simultaneously leading the Masters 45+ series. At press time Masters 55+ series leader Jim Laird of Ontario, Canada, was not registered, but Phillip Bannister and Dusty Adams are ready to duel for the leader's jersey.

The 2007 Verge NECCS is sponsors include: Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines; BikeReg.com, the official registration service of the NECCS, is the solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; Greyhound Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; and Paul Weiss Photo/Video, the NECCS official photographer and videographer.

Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series:

• October 13 - Gloucester Gran Prix of Cyclocross #1 - Gloucester, MA
• October 13 - Gloucester Gran Prix of Cyclocross #2 - Gloucester, MA
• November 3 - Chainbiter 8.0 - Farmington, CT
• November 4 - Cycle-Smart International - Northampton, MA
• November 24 - Bay State Cyclocross - Sterling, MA
• December 8 - W.E. Steadman Grand Prix - Warwick, RI
• December 9 - Caster's Cyclocross - Warwick, RI

For more information on the 2007 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series please go to www.necyclocross.com