SUFFERN, N.Y. (Nov. 16, 2019) - The 2019 Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series continued with race number three on Saturday with the Rockland County Supercross Cup in Suffern, N.Y. 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. Windy conditions prevailed throughout the day with riders facing bitter cold temperatures as they traversed the flowing, world-cup style venue at Rockland Community College.
Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) powered away from the competition in the elite women’s race to take the day one victory. In the men's event, Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) would work with his teammates to secure the top step of the podium.
For the Vittoria Series, after scoring double victories at last weekend’s Verge Northampton International, Caroline Nolan (Voler / Easton / HRS / Rock Lobster) leads the elite women’s competition and Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz/Donkey Label Racing) leads the elite men’s, both with 100 points. Neither rider is in attendance in Suffern this weekend.
The first of three race weekends, the Vittoria Series follows competition on classic cyclocross courses in the Northeast, which include Northampton, M.A., Suffern, N.Y., and Warwick, R.I. It is the longest standing UCI cyclocross series in the United States. Athletes compete for points on the USA Cycling Pro Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX), as well as the Vittoria Series overall competition.
In the elite women’s race, Fahringer and Courtney McFadden (Pivot-Maxxis pb Stans NoTubes) would get to the front early and assert control.
“I was anxious to see how it was going to play out,” said Fahringer, “because it was a windy day but it’s also a climby course so the question is are the climbs going to separate or will people want to stay together to stay out of the wind and let other people pull.”
But Fahringer, despite a determined McFadden, would come into the finish stretch with a slight edge over her competitor, with Fahringer finishing with just a five second gap. “She was much faster than me in the woods which is the last section before the line and I did not want her on my tail or gapping me going into that.”
Just behind the duo, Carla Williams (Deschutes Brewery Cyclocross Team) would finish third, two minutes and eleven seconds behind Fahringer. “I was just trying to set my own tempo and keep it peppy enough for third place,” said Williams.
In the elite men’s race, the Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com team was dominant throughout the day. “There was a big group early on and I think with five laps to go I launched an attack,” said Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com). Hyde would solo until teammate White would make contact.
“I’m really happy with the race,” said White. “Hyde got an early lead. I was feeling good and I bridged up to Hyde, I was able to gap the group behind. Hyde and I were riding together for a while and it all shook out in the last lap and a half.”
White would solo into the finish line just ahead of his teammate, nine seconds ahead of Hyde. To complete the podium sweep, Lane Maher (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) would out-sprint Kerry Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano) for third. “The last two laps is where I started to think about maybe doing some attacks and some efforts, not so much to get away from him, just to make sure no one else caught us.” Maher would drive the pace in the final lap and finish just ahead of Werner, who would take fourth.
Racing will continue Sunday in Suffern. Watch the races unfold in person or by following tweets at @VittoriaSeries. Follow on Facebook and YouTube for race weekend highlights video highlights provided by DirtWire.TV.
For a full photo album click here (photos: Angelica Dixon)
Full results and Series standings will be available on crossresults.