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Chainbiter 4.0 (Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series #4) - C3
Farmington, USA, November 24, 2002
Gullickson Still Perfect, McConneloug Widens Lead
By John Verheul
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On a cool, windy day just outside of Hartford, Connecticut, a fast course with three dismounts per lap, a rideable sand pit, an exhausting runup and several slick off-cambers created an excellent stage for the USA's finest cyclo-cross racers to perform. Perform the certainly did, as Verge Series leaders Marc Gullickson, who had just flown in from Salt Lake City for the start, and Mary McConneloug each won their respective races. Behind each of them though, some new faces emerged, and some older ones re-emerged as the second half of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series started to take shape.
The elite men's race started with Josh Anthony (CycloCrossWorld.com) winning the start and leading the strung-out field around the first corners and into the sand pit. Emerging out of the sand pit, the first attack of the day was from Wheelworks/Cannondale rider Jon Hamblen, looking to exploit his considerable road strength on some of the straighter, flatter sections of the course. As the field approached the long runup for the first time, Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) moved smoothly to the front to lead into the runup. His long strides and superior fitness enabled him to put the rest of the group under even more pressure on the runup, causing some immediate splits. Johannes Huseby (Independent Fabrications) also looked strong on the runup, staying close to Gullickson. While the field seemed to already have come apart midway through the opening lap, it regrouped on the paved section leading into the start/finish into a group of ten led by Huseby, and containing nearly all the pre-race favourites.
As Huseby continued to lead lap 2, Gullickson simply bided his time until he repeated his runup pressure for the second time. This time, only Huseby and 2001 Chain Biter winner Mark McCormack (Saturn) could follow. Soon however even Huseby was forced to drop off the pace, as Gullickson upped the tempo on every section of the course. Gullickson continued to ride in his characteristic style, attacking the course at every opportunity, while McCormack was amazingly able to match every acceleration and claw his way back. Unfortunately, the Saturn rider had an untimely flat, and had to ride the better part of lap 4 on a flat rear tire before he could change to his second bike. By that time, Gullickson was gone for good. "I like to get out there alone so I can ride my own pace", Gullickson said later. Regardless, it was off to the races, and a fourth win in the four Verge Series races so far in 2002.
Meanwhile, McCormack dropped out of the top ten while riding the flat tire. Closer to the front of the race, Huseby was now locked in a battle with Shaun Snodolen (Je James), a newcomer to the series from England. This battle would go on for the rest of the race, with first Snodolen taking the advantage, then Huseby gaining it back when Snodolen had to change bikes due to loose handlebars. The two entered the final lap together, but a slip in the sandpit by the young Englishman gave Huseby the edge he needed to pick up his best Verge Series result since winning the 2002 series finale in Rhode Island. The Independent Fabrications rider was understandably exuberant at the finish, while Snodolen was still pleased with a more than respectable third place, and the top U23 finisher.
As Mark McCormack drove back up through the field following his flat, he literally blew apart the groups that had formed in front of him. The final survivor was fast starter Josh Anthony, who timed an attack perfectly so he could ride the final 3 laps with the Saturn rider. McCormack rode away for the fourth spot on the final lap, while the young man from Beverly, MA and CycloCrossWorld.com was still quite pleased with fifth place, and second in the U23 classification ahead of such notables as Adam Craig (Giant) and Jeremy Powers (Balance Bar/DEVO). Powers again astounded all as the only rider able to consistently ride the long, bumpy, steep runup after hopping the barrier leading into it.
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On the women's side, Verge Series leader Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) started conservatively, trailing US Masters Champion Jodi Groesbeck (Putney/West Hill) at the end of lap 1. By the next time through though, she had taken the lead for good. Groesbeck showed her good form by never letting the gap get above ten seconds though, and forcing McConneloug to truly race at her limit for the entire 45 minutes.
Gearworks/SRP rider Shauna Gillies-Smith quickly established herself alone in third place. While the former Canadian Champion was never able to challenge for the lead, she comfortably held off the various groups behind her for yet another podium finish in New England. Her teammates Anna Milkowski and Marianne Stover rode together for most of the race, picking up the 4th and 5th spots respectively. Such was the presence of the large Gearworks/SRP team in the race (5 riders in the first 10) that they were asked by kid's race director Doug Tanner to lead the kids on their abbreviated lap between the elite races.
U.S. junior national champion Jesse Anthony (Saturn Development) took an expected victory in the junior race, over GMBC's Jamey Driscoll and CCB's Konrad LeBas. Joey Thompson (DEVO/Balance Bar) picked up 4th over his teammate Adam Snyder.
Mike Bernard took his first 2002 Verge Series win in the Men's 35+race,taking the series lead from Sam Morse in the process. U.S. National Champion Paul Curley picked up the win and retains the Verge Series lead in Men's 45+. Matt Krause won the men's B race with Matt Hersey keeping the series lead. The C men's race winner was Paul LaPierre, while Donna Lacassa won the women's C race and Greg Carpenter the Cub Junior race.
With over $25,000 in prize money, six internationally sanctioned rounds in five states, and all events world-class, the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series is once again the premier cyclo-cross racing series in the U.S. Verge, the title Sponsor of the New England Cyclo-Cross Series produces custom jerseys, shorts, knickers, tights, arm warmers and other cycling-related accessories. Look for the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series jersey on the backs of the Series Leaders, and look for the Verge truck at the races.
Race sponsors include Benidorm Bikes, A full service bike, snowboard and Cross-country ski shop located in Canton, CT, founded and owned by bike racers; Braziler Technology, Inc., specializing in all metal finishing needs.
Other series supporters include Cycle-Smart coaching, promotions & management; Time Sport USA, designer and manufacturer of cycling pedals, shoes and forks; The Ride Magazine, exhaustively covering East Coast Bike Culture; Honey Stinger, convenient honey-based energy foods; and BikeReg.com, the premier on-line registration company for cycling events.
Round 5 of the 2002 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be the UCI Cat 3 W.E. Stedman Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, held on Sunday, Dec 1 in South Kingstown, RI. Like the first four rounds of the Verge Series, it is a U.S. team selection event for the World Championships.
Photography
Images by Chris Milliman/chrismilliman.com
- Shaun Snodolen of Sheffield, England
- Snodolen hooks through some loose dirt
- Marc Gullickson gets out of the saddle
- Gully powers on
- Jodi Groesbeck looking tired
- Mary McConneleog concentrating hard
- McConneleog crosses the line
Images by cyclocrossworld.com
- Marc Gullickson dominated from the start
- Johs Huseby powered to a second place finish
- British entrant Shaun Snodolen and Johs Huseby in a battle royale!
- CyclocrossWorld U23 rider Josh Anthony had a breakthrough performance.
- Surprise British entrant Shaun Snodolen managed a spot on the podium.
- Theo Kindermans competes in the Veteran class.
Images by Mike Morris/intensepicts.com
- Gullickson on the runup
- Gullickson Wins
- Jodi Groesbeck finished a close second
- Jodi negotiates the downhill off-camber
- Johs Huseby leads Jeremy Powers through the sand
- Johs Huseby rode to a strong second place
- Marc Gullickson powers on
- Mark McCormack looks for the next obstacle
- Mary carries speed through the faster sections
- Mary doesn't even sink into the sand!
- Mary McConneleog wins
- McConneleog looks for the right gear
- McCormack trails Verge Series leader Gullickson
Results
Elite Men 1 Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) 55.10 2 Johannes Huseby (Independent Fabrication) 0.21 3 Shaun Snodolen (JE James) 0.35 4 Mark Mccormack (Saturn N) 0.57 5 Josh Anthony (Cyclocross World.com) 1.10 6 Adam Craig (Giant) 1.49 7 Michael Broderick (Seven Cycles) 1.55 8 Tyler Johnson (CYBC - Richard Sachs) 1.55 CT State U23 Gold 9 Justin Lille (Trek/VW W) 2.11 10 Matthew Svatek (Cannondale Wheelworks) 2.12 11 Rob Hult (O'neils) 2.42 12 Alec Donahue (NCC Bikereg) 3.06 13 Jonathan Hamblen (Wheelworks) 3.16 14 Adam Hodges (Myerson NCC/Bikereg.com) 3.43 15 Micah Thompson (Excel Sports) 3.49 16 Brian Astell (CCB) 3.52 17 Jonathan Bruno (Quad Cycles) 4.16 18 J.D. Bilodeau (NCC / Bikereg.com) 4.28 19 Jeremy Powers (Balance Bar/Devo) 4.32 CT State U23 Silver 20 Troy Michaud (Eurotek) 4.34 21 Troy Wells (Balance Bar/Devo) 22 Eugene Ruter (Trek/Vw) 23 Christopher Peck (Cannondale Wheelworks) CT State Elite Gold 24 Jeff Leake (NCC / Bikereg.com) 25 Daniel Coady (NCC / Bikereg.com) 1 lap 26 John Foley (Bicycle Alley N) 27 John Hanson (Necsa/Fraysse's Sports Resort) CT State U23 Bronze 28 Mukunda Feldman (NCC/Bikereg.com) DNF Jp Partland (Kissena) DNF Nathan Rice (Catamount Cycling Club) DNF Steve Roszko (NCC / Bikereg.com) DNF David Werling (Necsa/Fraysse's Sports Resort) Elite Women 1 Mary Mcconneloug (Seven Cycles) 38.35 2 Jodi Groesbeck 0.07 3 Shauna Gilles-Smith (Gearworks/Srp) 1.35 4 Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/Srp) 1.55 5 Marianne Stover (Gearworks/Srp) 2.07 6 Sara Cushman (Gearworks/Srp North) 2.24 7 Kathryn Roszko (NCC / Bikereg.com) 2.57 8 Alicia Genest (Team Richard Sachs) 3.20 9 Katrina Davis (Richard Sachs) 3.29 CT State Elite Gold 10 Susan Maclean (Gearworks/Srp) 3.48 11 Shelia Vibert (Team Redhook Mt) 3.54 12 Kerry Litka (NHCC) 4.33 13 Celeste Drumm (Mean Wheels Bike Shop) 4.35 14 Kathy Sarvary (Cyclonauts) 5.14 15 Maryann Martinez (NEBC Cycleloft) 5.27 16 Katina Sayers 7.03 17 Catherine Dudley (Unh New) 7.35 18 Kristen Osborne (NEBC Cycleloft) 1 lap 19 Stephanie White (NHjca) 20 Laura Jensen (Eastern Bloc) CT State Masters Gold 21 Margaret Thompson (Mvbc/Aegis) 22 Erin Olafsen (Unh) Junior Men 1 Jesse Anthony (Saturn Development) 40.36 2 Jamey Driscoll (Gmbc/Invensys) 0.29 3 Konrad Lebas ( CCB International) 2.56 CT State Junior Gold 4 Joey Thompson (Balance Bar/Devo) 3.49 5 Adam Snyder (Balance Bar/Devo) 4.19 6 Kevin Wolfson (NEBC / Cycleloft) 4.41 7 Charles Marzot (Corner Cycle Cycling Club) 5.50 8 Colin Coates (Coyote Hill) 1 lap CT State Junior Silver 9 Ethan Tieger (Essex County Velo) 10 Tucker Olander (Peerless/Hnecc) 11 Peter Stetson (Port Velo) 12 Rob Ferber (Necsa) DNF Samuel Benson (Balance Bar/Devo) 35+/45+ Men 1 Michael Bernard (Arc-En-Ciel) 42.12 2 Scott Wade (Gearworks/Srp Team) 0.09 3 Tim Haitz (Team Dupont) 0.18 4 John Mckone (Gmbc/Invensys) 0.33 5 John Verheul (Team Ideal Tile) 0.45 6 Christopher Long (I.F./Gotham) 0.46 7 Samuel Morse (Mass Bay Road Club) 1.08 8 Mark Stotz (NCC/Bikereg.com) 1.18 9 45+ Paul Curley (Gearworks/Srp Team) 1.18 10 Mike Umbrell (Minuteman Road Club) 1.35 11 Paul Lynch (Missing Link Bicycle Club) 1.43 12 45+ David Rath (Team Gmbc/Invensys) 2.10 13 Gary Keblish (Century Sbcg) 1.46 14 Mike Shore (Bob) 2.23 15 Mark Luebbers (Stiner Sports) 2.43 16 James Walsh (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 3.30 17 Brian Sweeney (Gearworks/Srp Team) 3.40 18 Greg Pelican (Bethel Cycle Sport Club) 4.01 CT State 35+ Gold 19 Scott Collins (Team Casterama) 4.24 20 David Schachte (Providence Velo) 4.27 21 Robert Kramer (Mass Bay Road Club) 4.35 22 Michael Dameron (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 4.40 CT State 35+ Silver 23 Jan Wiejak (Verge) 4.52 24 Christopher Smith (Rage/Harpoon/Int.Bike) 5.03 25 Paul Nyberg (Benidorm) 5.16 CT State 35+ Bronze 26 Kevin Callahan (Bicycle Link) 1 lap 27 Wayne Barlow (Coyote Hill) 28 Doug Aspinwall (NCC / Bikereg.com) 29 Joel Brown (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 30 Jeff Gauthier (Gmbc/Invensys) 31 Gene Gorneau (Mercy Cycling Team) 32 David Genest (Richard Sachs) 33 Michael Tucker (Berkshire Cycling) 34 Andreas Daiber 35 Jeff Cohen (NCC) 36 Eugene Petrella (Beans-Reinhart North) 37 T. Kindermans (Cyclocrossworld.com) 38 45+ Richard Costa (Brimfield Ma) 39 Michael T. Tucker (Bca/Took) 40 Charles Quackenbush (Capital Bike Racing Club/Ck Cycles) 41 Michael Oster (Swamp Yankee Road Club) 42 45+ Barrows Hunt (Richard Sachs/CYBC) 43 45+ William Keith (Stage One Cycling) CT State 45+ Gold 44 45+ Richard Sachs (Richard Sachs/CYBC) CT State 45+ Silver 45 Kenneth Homel (Afd/Dsvc) 46 45+ Bruce Thompson (Minuteman Road Club) 47 45+ Dave Martel (Richard Sachs/CYBC) 48 45+ Gary Dalton (Cox Communications Cycling Team) 49 45+ Steven Abbott CT State 45+ Bronze 50 Lawrence King (Providence Velo) 51 45+ Anthony Loproto (Hnecc) 52 45+ Sean Lebas (Laurel Bicycle Club) 53 45+ G. Minasiun 54 45+ Peter Piepul (Simsbury Ct) 55 Derek Griggs (Recycled Sports) 56 45+ Timothy Bailey (Bicycle Link) 57 Rich Foley (Laurel Bicycle Club) 58 Michael Zahner (NZ Racing) 59 James Themig 60 Paul Farnell 61 45+ Vincent Donohue (Worcester Cycling) 62 45+ Curtis Burwell (Laurel Bicycle Club) B Men 1 Matt Kraus (Independent Fabrications) 42.00 2 Connor Coffey (CCB/Vw) 0.34 3 Curtis Boivin (Providence Velo Club) 0.35 4 Matt Hersey (Liquid Motion So.) 0.50 5 Brant Hornberger (NCC / Bikereg.com) 1.23 6 Richard Rude 1.54 7 Zach Soucy (Redhook/Seacoast Vw) 1.56 8 Noah Taylor 2.01 9 Brendan Marshall (Team Beacon) 2.01 10 Eric Ragot (Kissena Cycling Club) 2.01 11 Brendan Sullivan (Boston Cross) 2.08 12 Mark Robson (Team Bicycle Alley) 2.37 13 Gary Keblish (Century-Sbgg) 2.34 14 Tom Hopper (Rei/Team Novara) 2.35 15 Kurt Scheerer (Verge Test Pilot) 2.40 16 John Burns 2.44 17 Alan Starrelt (Bikeman Bath Cycle) 2.44 18 Jonathan Lawrence 3.05 19 Zachary Dalb (Seven Cycles) 3.10 20 Wade Summers (Webevent.com / HVVC) 3.24 21 Art Trapotsis (Boston Road Club) 3.27 22 Christopher Milliman (Putney Westhill) 3.30 23 David Keefe (Boston Bicycle Club) 3.30 24 Jon Rowe (N) 3.32 25 Brandon Eifrid (Gap/Strictly Bicycles) 3.38 26 Kahlil Zaloom (Stage One) 3.40 27 Scott Livingston (Team Horst Engineering) 3.44 28 Orion Berryman (Team/Redhook) 3.47 29 Craig Kennedy (Eastern Bloc East) 4.06 30 Wade Hess (Beacon Cycling Ocean) 4.07 31 Brian Cantele 4.13 32 Sean Capizzo (Castorama) 4.20 33 Ethan Parsons (NCC/Bikereg.com) 4.26 34 Jeff Murray (Expo Wheelmen Rocky) 4.30 35 Euclides Amado (Cox Communications) 4.06 36 Jerome Hughes (Rei/Team Novara) 4.34 37 Kevin Calzia (C And C Racing) 4.38 38 Karl Krantz (Stage One) 4.39 39 David Ebelting (Webevent.com / HVVC) 4.43 40 Keith Button 4.47 41 John Legere (Eastern Bloc) 4.58 42 Brian Clark (Exposition Wheelmen) 5.00 43 Corey Piscopo 5.25 44 Brian Keegan 5.25 45 Michael Magur (Test Pilot) 5.27 46 Richard Brown 5.33 47 David Drumm (Mean Wheels Bike Shop) 5.34 48 Matthew Jamieson 5.53 49 Ryall Kumsey (Team Liquid Motion) 6.13 50 Daniel Abbe (Mountain City) 6.18 51 John Frey (NCC / Bikereg.com) 6.23 52 Pete Martel (NCC / Bikereg.com) 53 David Schachto (Providence Velo Club) 54 Leyton Murray (East End Cycling Team) 55 Paul Nyberg (Eastern Bloc) 56 Jeffrey Capobianco 57 Charles La (Punzina Kissena Cycling Club) 58 Ian Strever (Team Bethel New) 1 lap 59 Mark Wysocki 60 Richard Battaglia (Southern Maine CC) 61 Ryan Fleming (Sunapee-Banagans) 62 Bradley Shuford (NCC Bike Reg East) 63 Darrin Beek 64 Sam Stevens (Berlin Bike) 65 Darren Cuipi (Hnecc) 66 Brian Burgess (Team Beacon) 67 Jeff Papineau (Bob) C Men 1 Paul Lapierre (Cvc Pig Iron) 27.02 2 Wayne Maceyka (Harris Cyclery W.) 0.02 3 David Fredrickson (Unattached) 0.12 4 John Wright (Brc) 0.24 5 Jonathan Parrott (West Hill Lake) 0.26 6 Matthew Shoemaker (Wheelworks) 0.57 7 David Trant (Wheelworks) 1.04 8 Kenneth Hamel (Afd/Osvc) 1.11 9 Keynan Hobbs (Bethel Cycle) 1.13 10 Lyton Murray (Eect) 1.26 11 Harold Chad (Webevent.com) 1.26 12 Peter Rondinone (NHCC) 1.26 13 Nathan Mealey (NCC/Bikereg.com) 1.36 14 Peter Hutchins (NCC/Bikereg.) 1.36 15 Michael Harney 2.01 16 Vince Ridel (West) 2.09 17 Robert Bauer (Minuteman Road Club) 2.13 18 Brian Gilmore 2.15 19 Brian Bicki (Team Hawaiian) 2.31 20 Francis Blake 2.32 21 William Doonan 2.33 22 Jesse Bushnell 2.44 23 Paul Brais (Team Hawaiian) 2.47 24 Mark West (NCC / Bikereg.com) 2.47 25 Dave Beals (Cbrc) 2.57 26 David Spore (Capital Bike) 3.02 27 Lawrence King (Providence Velo Club) 3.03 28 Michael Nilsson (Union Velo) 3.04 29 Jeff Bousfield (Thread City Cyclers) 3.09 30 Don Marsh (Blues City Riders) 3.21 31 Lyle Fulkerson (Boston Cross) 3.42 32 Richard Pinto (New) 3.44 33 Paul Carrier (NCC/Bikereg.com East) 3.44 34 Ray Hoff (East) 3.55 35 Matthew Carpenter (Bikers Edge) 4.09 36 Rick Comshaw (Capital Velo Club) 4.37 37 Eric Lowenstein (Jersey) 4.37 38 Robert Deshosiers (Team Hawaiian) 39 Mike Romanowsky 40 Jamie Gonzolez 41 Michael Kegan (Icycle.com New) 42 Joe Sconzo 43 Jose Monterroso (Union Velo) 44 John Caton (Pro Cycles) 45 Mark Holland (Cyclonauts) 46 Paul Salerni C Women 1 Donna Lacassa (Bca) 33.07 2 Daria Van (Derveer Exposition Wheelman) 0.41 3 Cheryl Payne (Union) 0.55 4 Samantha Slattery 2.38 5 Sarah Berlinger (Putney Bike Club) 1 Lap Cub Juniors 1 Greg Carpenter (Bikers Edge) 2 Ryan Barlow (Coyote Hill) 3 Kyle Foley (Laurel Bike Club) 4 Silas Anthony (Ecv)
