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Photo by intensepicts.com |
Johnson and Bruno Roy Win Verge NECCS Elite
Titles Six incredible courses took New England’s cyclo-cross scene from the sodden fields of Maine to the snow-blown beaches of Rhode Island. And in the closest points race in its history, Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) edged Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) for the Elite Men’s overall points title in the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart. Johnson brought a perilous 10-point lead into the last weekend of racing in Rhode Island and emerged with the same margin after the sixth and final race, the Caster’s Grand Prix in Warwick. Cementing his reputation as a New England ‘cross prodigy, Johnson ended McCormack’s two-year Verge NECCS reign despite the four-time defending champion winning the Warwick race in a thrilling sprint finish. McCormack Wins Final Verge NECCS, Johnson
Takes Jersey With a race that will live in the annals of New England cyclo-cross history, Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) eked out a bike length win over Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) in a sprint finale at Sunday’s Caster’s Grand Prix in Warwick, Rhode Island the sixth and final stop of the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart. But while McCormack carried the day in treacherous snowy conditions, Johnson wrested the overall Series title from the four-time defending champion in a battle of true New England ‘cross icons. Wells, Dickey Win Windswept RI #1 On a day when the chilly west wind reminded every racer they were in
New Rhode Island Hosts Verge NECCS Finals A state better known for its yacht racing, Rhode Island will become the center of American cyclo-cross with this coming weekend’s Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series Finals, the W.E. Stedman Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, on Saturday, and the Castor’s Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, on Sunday. Building up to the following weekend’s Liberty Mutual U.S. National Championships, the Ocean State twin bill will provide perfect preparation for Nationals as well as a race-heavy end to the six-race Verge NECCS. With top riders from all across the U.S. flying in to get a final shot of racing before Nationals, overall Verge NECCS winner’s will be decided in Warwick on Sunday. Bessette, Johnson Win at Snowy Sterling Billed as a sneak preview of the course for December’s National Championships in Rhode Island, Saturday’s Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross, round four of the 2005 Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart, added an extra bit of intrigue: a healthy blanket of snow. The Sterling, Mass. course, designed by National’s course guru Tom Stevens, was already challenging before the four inches of white fluff came down on Thanksgiving Day, but the added element of dodgy traction and sub-freezing temps made for an epic day in the fourth race of the 2005 Verge NECCS. Sterling Offers National’s Sneak Preview Those racers motivated enough to push away from a second helping of turkey and toe the line at the Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross, Saturday in Sterling, Mass., will get a sneak preview of what to expect from December’s National Championships in Rhode Island. Round four of the 2005 Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart, Gearworks will use a course designed by the veteran hand of Tom Stevens, the man also responsible for laying out the course at Nationals. McCormack, Bessette shine the brightest in
Northampton A beautiful day in central Massachusetts greeted over 400 riders as Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) and Lynn Bessette (Louis Garneau/Cyclocrossworld.com) took the elite top honors at the 15th Annual Cycle-Smart Invitational, Round #3 of the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-cross Series. Johnson Outsprints Wells, Bessette Rolls
in Farmington An a ending as rare as it was exciting, Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) closed out the Elite Men’s race at ChainBIter 7.0 in Farmington, Conn. with a narrow sprint finish win over Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai). Stop two on the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart, Farmington’s final race came down to the final meters with Johnson leading out Wells, racing in his first UCI categorized event of the year, and just barely holding off the 2004 mountain bike Olympian. Farmington, Northampton Host Verge NECCS
Double As the season’s temperatures hover near freezing through fall’s ever shortening days, the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart, enters the heart of its ultra-competitive schedule. In the first of the Series’ two “double dip weekends” the Verge NECCS makes stops in Farmington, Conn. and Northampton, Mass. November 12-13. Felt and Greyhound Juice Join Verge NECCS The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart, is proud to announce Felt Bicycles and Greyhound Juice as the newest sponsors of North America’s premier regional cyclo-cross series. Bessette, McCormack Run Away with Muddy Maine
Wins Under horrendous conditions in New Gloucester, Maine, with a steady driving
rain and mud everywhere, Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau)
and Mark McCormack (Team Clif Shot) opened the 2005 Verge New England
Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart with convincing
wins in the Elite Women’s and Men’s races, respectively. On
a rolling course with mixed surfaces, but always plenty of wet, the 2005
Downeast Cyclo-Cross may have set a new New England standard for swampy
conditions. Bessette, McCormack Run Away with Muddy Maine
Wins Under horrendous conditions in New Gloucester, Maine, with a steady driving
rain and mud everywhere, Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau)
and Mark McCormack (Team Clif Shot) opened the 2005 Verge New England
Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart with convincing
wins in the Elite Women’s and Men’s races, respectively. On
a rolling course with mixed surfaces, but always plenty of wet, the 2005
Downeast Cyclo-Cross may have set a new New England standard for swampy
conditions. Maine Hosts 2005 Verge New England Championship
Cyclo-Cross Series Opener With one of the most demanding courses in New England, the Downeast Cyclo-Cross kicks off the 2005 Verge New England Championships Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart, this Saturday in New Gloucester, ME. Known for its mix of fast descents, a leg crushing run-up, and sections of strength sapping mud, the Downeast course throws every challenge a UCI course can at the crowds of ‘cross racers anxious to kick off the Verge NECCS. 2005 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series
Ready to Roll Building up to the crescendo of December’s National Championships in Rhode Island, the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will provide a perfect season-long proving ground for regional and national cyclo-cross talent. As always, healthy purses and excellent UCI courses will greet the legion of racers that flock to New England Series, starting October 15 in New Gloucester, Maine with the Downeast Cyclo-Cross. More...
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