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Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series #5 (WE Stedman GP) - C3
South Kingstown, RI, USA, December 20, 2003
Gullickson and McConneloug return with a bang
By Nathan Mealey
In cold December New England weather, both of last year's Verge NECCS champions returned after missing the most recent round of the series, and both claimed important victories as the series moves into its final round. Marc Gullickson and Mary McConneloug returned to New England cyclo-cross in S. Kingstown, RI, each vowing to not let their titles from a year ago change hands without a battle.
Gullickson storms to the win
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From the starting whistle the Men's Elite race was on fire. The current Verge NECCS overall leader Mark McCormack (Saturn) got the hole shot on the uphill sprint start, with newly crowned Under-23 National Champion Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes) right on his wheel. By the end of the first lap a lead group containing McCormack, Anthony, Marc Gullickson (Redline), Ben Turner (7-Up/Maxxis), and Zak Grabowski (Hot Tubes), had formed, and the rest of the field had detonated in their wake.
Midway through the second lap, Gullickson threw down the gauntlet with a strong attack that none of the other riders could follow. As he gradually stretched his lead out, Grabowski began to fall off the pace, losing time in the slippery turns, leaving the other three to chase the leader. With three laps to go, Turner was gapped by McCormack and Anthony, and crashed as he gassed it trying to catch them. With the chase group down to two riders, Gullickson's grip on the win was secure, leaving just a race for second place.
Coming through the start finish with one lap to go, Anthony attacked McCormack, but was unable to shake him, and in the finishing sprint, McCormack won the race for second. Grabowski managed to catch Turner and eventually crossed the line for fourth, while Turner picked up the remaining UCI points with fifth place. With the win, Gullickson inched closer to taking the jersey back from McCormack in Sunday's double points finale in Merrimack, NH, where McCormack has to at least finish second again if Gullickson wins to keep the lead.
McConneloug reasserts her dominance
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With three newly crowned national champions in the elite women's field, Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) had her work cut out for her. Not to mention that for the first time in two years, the Verge NECCS leader's jersey was on the shoulders of a rider other than herself, namely Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/SpinArts).
And when the start whistle blew, it was clear that these other riders fully intended to make life difficult for McConneloug. Marianne Stover (Gearworks/SpinArts) won the start with a fierce uphill sprint, and promptly built a gap between herself and the field. Behind her, McConneloug was chasing hard, with Milkowski and Sinead Fitzgibbon (EAS) just behind her. By the midpoint of the first lap, McConneloug had caught Stover, and then sprinted away from her as they came to the end of the lap.
After two laps, Milkowski and Fitzgibbon had caught Stover and set off in a vain pursuit of the leader. McConneloug stretched her lead further every lap, eventually winning by a sizable margin. Milkowski sprinted home in 2nd place, but it was not enough to maintain her hold on the leader's jersey, which passed back into the hands of McConneloug. Fitzgibbon finished in 3rd, just in front of Stover.
Other winners on the day included Konrad Lebas (Richard Sachs) in the Junior race; Jonny Bold (CCCC/Corner Cycle) in the Masters 35+; Scott Wade (Gearworks/SpinArts) in the Masters 45+; and Alan Starrett (Bikeman.com) in the B Men's race.
Tomorrow's Verge NECCS Round 6 in Merrimack, New Hampshire features double points, meaning that none of the series leader's jerseys are secure. Anything can happen, especially with the expected mix of cold and mud that will greet the racers. Expect Gullickson to go all out in an attempt to regain the leader's jersey, and McCormack to do the same to hold onto it. And with just a 6 point margin over 2nd place, Mary McConneloug is by no means assured of another series victory.
Photography
Images by Mike Morris/www.Intensepicts.com
- We want you! The Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series poster.
- Konrad Lebas (Richard Sachs) leads out the Masters/Juniors race.
- A group of masters riders power up an incline.
- Timothy Groesbeck over the hurdles in the Masters 35+ race.
- Junior winner Konrad Lebas (Richard Sachs).
- Paul Curley jumps the barriers.
- Mean machine.
- Konrad Lebas (Richard Sachs), third place in the B Men's race
- The lead group early on.
- Amateur race winner, Alan Starrett (Bikeman.com).
- The women get off to a fast start.
- Marianne Stover (Gearworks/Spinarts) had a great start with Mary McConnelog (Seven Cycles) until some unaware course guests caught her off-guard, allowing McConnelog the chance to take the lead.
- This helped Anna Milkowski (2nd) and Sinead Fitzgibbon (3rd) with their podium places.
- Mary McConnelog (Seven Cycles) found herself alone in the lead for almost the entire race...
- ... and not surprsingly finished as the clear winner.
- Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/SpinArts) rode well to finish second.
- Marianne Stover (Gearworks/Spinarts) placed fourth.
- Mary McConnelog (Seven Cycles) zooms over the barriers.
- Two riders quickly approach the barriers.
- Rhode Island State Champ, Becky Sox of Dansko.
- Mary McConnelog (Seven Cycles) remounts her machine.
- Sinead Fitzgibbon (EAS/ CRCA) rounded off the podium places.
- The elite women's podium.
- Zak Grabowski (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) raced well to finish fourth.
- Marc Gullickson (Redline) was a decisive winner, dominating today's race.
- Marc Gullickson (Redline).
- The battle for second began with Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis, 5th), Marc Gullickson (Redline, 2nd) and Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team, 3rd).
- Marc Gullickson (Redline).
- The second group over the barriers
- Johannes Huseby (Fiordi Frutta) just made it into the top ten.
- Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis) and Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) pull away from Marc Gullickson (Redline), but not for long.
- USPRO road champ Mark McCormack (Team Saturn).
- Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis).
- Johannes Huseby (Fiordi Frutta).
- Adam Hodges Myerson (Cycle-Smart) rounded out the top 10.
- Troy Wells goes the big bunny-hop!
- Marc Gullickson (Redline) assesses the damage.
- Marc Gullickson (Redline).
- Mark McCormack (Team Saturn) took his turn leading the second group with Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) and Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis) playing catch-up.
- Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team).
- The battle for ninth place.
- Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) attacked on the last lap to take the final podium place.
- Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis) checks his rear-view
- Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis) slipped back while with Mark McCormack (Team Saturn) and Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) ended up fighting with Zak Grabowski (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) for fourth place.
- Marc Gullickson (Redline) takes the win.
- Another Mark, Mark McCormack (Team Saturn) holds off Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) for second place.
- The elite men's podium.
Results
Elite Men, 17 starters 1 Marc Gullickson (Redline) 52.13 2 Mark Mccormack (Team Saturn) 0.13 3 Jesse Anthony (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) 4 Zak Grabowski (Hot Tubes Cycling Team) 0.52 5 Ben Turner (7up/Maxxis) 0.57 6 Jon Bruno (ECV) 2.44 7 Jacob Stechmann (Alan Factory Team) 3.07 8 Michael Broderick (Seven Cycles) 3.23 9 Johannes Huseby (Fiordi Frutta) 3.24 10 Adam Hodges (Myerson Cycle-Smart) 4.21 11 Jeff Leake (NCC/BikeReg.com) 5.21 12 Noah Taylor 5.30 13 Curtis Boivin (Providence Velo) 7.09 14 Troy Wells (Team Devo) 7.49 15 John Hanson (Benidorm/Createx) at 1 lap Elite Women, 14 starters 1 Mary Mcconnelog (Seven Cycles) 35.15 2 Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/SpinArts) 0.43 3 Sinead Fitzgibbon (EAS/ CRCA) 1.42 4 Marianne Stover (Gearworks/Spinarts) 2.18 5 Celeste Drumm (Mean Wheels Bike Shop) 2.23 6 Pauline Frascone (Arc-en-ciel) 2.37 7 Maryann Martinez (CCB/Volkswagen) 2.49 8 Sara Cushman (Gear Works/Spin Arts) 3.14 9 Susan Maclean (Gear Works/Spin Arts) 3.45 10 Stephanie White (Dansko/Wheelworks) 4.20 11 Katherine Farago (NEBC/Cycleloft) 4.41 12 Rebecca Wellons (NEBC/Cycleloft) 5.18 13 Rebecca Sox (CCB/Volkswagen) 5.40 14 Kerry Litka (Dansko/Wheelworks) 9.08 Masters 35+, 33 starters 1 Jonny Bold (CCCC/Corner Cycle) 40.11 2 Christopher Long 0.46 3 Michael Ward (BCA/TOSK) 4 Michael Bernard (Gearworks/Spinarts) 1.00 5 Scott Wade (Gearworks/Spinarts) 1.06 6 John Verheul (Cycle-Smart) 1.12 7 Mark Stotz (Cyclonauts) 1.38 8 William Sawyer (Gearworks) 1.46 9 Paul Boudreau (Essex County Velo) 2.06 10 Eric Marro (Team BOB/Skofield Builders) 2.25 11 Timothy Groesbeck 12 Paul Curley (TEAM Gearworks/Spinarts) 13 Paul Lynch (Bicycle Link) 3.13 14 Christopher Brown (Corner Cycle) 3.35 15 James Walsh (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 16 Kevin Callahan (bicycle link) 17 David Schachte (Providence Velo Club) 4.03 18 Tom Stevens (Gear Works/Spin Arts) 4.10 19 Geoff Sullivan (Eastern Bloc/Benidorm) 4.26 20 Gene Garneau 5.14 21 Tim Crowley (CTS) 5.19 22 Christopher Smith 5.37 23 Bob Bisson (Gearworks/Spinarts) 5.47 24 James Haitz (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 5.58 25 Bruce Mccowan 6.18 26 Steven Bonadio (NEBC/Cycle Loft) 6.34 27 Michael Dameron (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 7.04 28 Kelly Cline (Wissahikon Cyclery) 8.24 29 Chris Daigneault 8.30 30 Wayne Cunningham (NEBC/Cycle Loft) 9.26 31 Stephen Cruickshank (Boston Road Club/ATA Cycles) 10.42 32 Bill Hurley (Slick Willy Bike Lube) at 1 lap Juniors, 7 starters 1 Konrad Lebas (Richard Sachs) 39.47 2 Noah Harwood (Daigel Corp/NHJCA) 1.41 3 Charles Marzot (Corner Cycle Cycling Club) 2.49 4 Morgan Macleod (Portland Velo/Jamis) 3.53 5 Ian Gordon (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 4.42 6 Tucker Olander (Peerless/HNECC) 5.51 7 Tim Halliday 8.21 B Men 1 Alan Starrett (Bikeman.com) 41.44 2 Ari Dewilde (Benidorm / Eastern Bloc) 0.17 3 Steve Rescigno (Bethel Cycle) 0.25 4 Ryan Amisault (University of Colorado) 0.26 5 David Keefe (Boston Bicycle Club) 0.32 6 Peter Rubijono (B2C/Community) 0.35 7 Matt Demeis (bikeman.com) 0.50 8 Tom Hopper (REI/Team Novara) 1.11 9 Todd Cassan (Rocinant) 1.30 10 Paul Nyberg (Benidorm/Eastern Bloc) 1.40 11 Brian Rutter (Berlin Bike) 1.42 12 Jerome Hughes (REI/Team Novara) 13 Oscar Purwin (NHCC/Team NH) 1.59 14 Chris Cyr (bikeman.com) 2.21 15 Christopher Burke (Providence Velo) 2.29 16 Jeff Murray 2.40 17 Can Gagliarde (MRB Mind.com) 2.45 18 Brant Hornberger (NCC / BikeReg.com) 2.56 19 Wade Summers (Benidorm / Eastern Bloc) 3.04 20 Ethan Parsons 3.10 21 Daniel Abbe (W.A.C.) 3.52 22 Kyle Wolfe (Bicycle Link) 3.58 23 Wayne Maceyka (BRC/ATA Cycles) 24 Matthew Budd (Boston Road Club) 4.14 25 Michael Cole (Minuteman Road Club) 4.39 26 Sam Stevens (Berlin Bike) 4.43 27 Michael Harney 5.21 28 Matt Bodziony (Team Casterama) 6.16 29 John Gadrow (Team Casterama) 30 Rich Battuslia 6.41 31 Alvin Nordell (NCC / BikeReg.com) 8.46 32 John Feinberg (hampton velo club) 9.29 33 David Salonen 11.12 C Women, 3 starters 1 Heather Owens (providence velo club) 41.31 2 Rachel Brown 1.03 3 Lesli Comp (Team Berlin Bike) 2.20 B Masters, 28 starters 1 James Patterson 37.20 2 Mike Tetreault 0.06 3 Richard Costa 0.19 4 Michael Keough (corner cycle cycling club) 0.24 5 Barry Groton 0.35 6 John Smey 0.37 7 Theo Kindermans (cyclocrossworld.com) 1.13 8 Mike Troisi (Chocksett Inn Racing) 1.28 9 Neil Scott 1.50 10 Bob Connors (corner cycle cycling club) 11 Dan Tieger (Essex County Velo) 2.00 12 Lawrence King (Providence Velo) 2.06 13 Thomas Downey (MBRC) 2.15 14 Brian Bicki (Team Hawaiian/Vittorio) 2.24 15 Mako Saito (Harvard U Cycling) 16 Clayton Dennis (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 17 Robert Desrosiers (Team Hawaiian/Vittorio) 18 Arnold T. (Kalmbach Team - IBC) 19 James Themig (Mystic Velo Club) 3.37 20 Ron Deangelis (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 4.17 21 Gary Aspris 4.53 22 David Singleton (Pfizer Cyclists) 5.56 23 Herbert Bates (NEBC/Cycle Loft) 6.51 24 Scott Mcculloch 25 Richard Tallberg (Don's Cycle's/Fairfield, CT.) 8.34 26 Fafar Bayat 10.20 27 Lap Garnbed (Minasian MM Bicycle) at 1 lap Cub Juniors, 6 starters 1 Stephanie White (Dansko/Wheelworks) 09.45 2 Nick Keough (Corner Cycle) 0.16 3 Luke Keough (Corner Cycle) 0.34 4 Douglas Hayes 1.04 5 Madeline Brown (Cox Communications) 7.00
