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W.E. Stedman Co. Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross - C3
South Kingstown, RI, USA, December 1, 2002
Huseby Repeats 2001 Win, McConneloug Seals Series
By John Verheul
Cold, blustery wind met the riders for the Stedman Co. Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, round five of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series. Event promoter Pave' Productions used every inch of the South Kingstown, RI venue to create a course some felt was the best yet in the 2002 Verge Series. The excitement of the racing certainly was at a high level, as Johannes Huseby of Independent Fabrication emerged from a strong group of six to take the win by mere inches over British U23 Champion Sean Snodden (Je James). Many considered Huseby's 2001 Verge Series victory at this venue to be a breakthrough of sorts for him, and after his second place to series leader Marc Gullickson last week in CT, it seems he is bent on confirming his place among the US 'cross elite.
The elite men's race started with Snodden winning the start, and a very fast first lap saw a front group emerge with all the pre-race favorites: Snodden, Huseby, Josh Anthony (CycloCrossWorld.com), Tyler Johnson (Richard Sachs), Marc McCormack (Saturn), and Adam Craig (Giant). Nearing the end of the lap though, only one rider was willing to attack and endure the very strong, cold winds on his own, US U23 champion Adam Craig. The professional mountain biker quickly built a ten second lead, yet more impressive was how comfortable he looked doing it.
Going into lap three, McCormack decided Craig's move looked good and began to bridge across on his own, as the previously smooth riding group decimated behind him. Leaping over the barriers leading into pit #1, Craig suffered the first of what seemed like an endless string of bike troubles that would plague him all day. His stopping to adjust his drivetrain, and subsequent restart, resulted in a complete regrouping at the front. Craig would eventually finish fifth.
The next rider to suffer mechanical difficulty was Snodden. The young man from Sheffield flatted during lap three, losing his spot in the lead group, and falling nearly out of the top ten before he could get a bike change. Once he was aboard his second bike, he took his time regaining the lead group, a calculated strategy. "I didn't want to come back too fast and spend all my energy that way" he later explained.
Once Snodden regained the group, over half the race was complete. Craig had been battling more mechanical difficulties, and the resultant energy spent constantly recovering was beginning to see him yo-yo off the back of the group. A mid-race attack by McCormack set up a counterattack from the surprising Tyler Johnson, and while the Richard Sachs rider couldn't hold his gap alone, it resulted in a split of Johnson, McCormack, and Huseby clearly separating from the rest. Soon Johnson's time was up though, and as he dropped back to the chasing Anthony and Craig, Snodden bridged up to create a lead group of three. Johnson regrouped later to finish a strong third.
All looked set for these three men to battle out the final laps amongst themselves, but an uncharacteristic series of muscle cramps put an end to McCormack's chances. The Saturn Professional would fall to sixth by the end of the day. So with less than two laps to go it was England vs. New England in the form of Snodden and Huseby. The two well-matched riders each put in attacks in the final two laps, but it was destined to come down to a sprint. Huseby trailed Snodden closely for the final half lap, matching his accelerations in the penultimate straightaway, and surging past him in the final fifty meters for the win. So close was the finish that the judges took several minutes to decide a winner.
Snodden was gracious in defeat, finishing just behind the Independent Fabrication rider for the second week in a row, "Johs Huseby was very impressive today. Several people told me they thought I'd won it."
Huseby was justifiably happy after picking up his first Verge Series win of the year, "I learned a lot last year, a lot about how to race at the front and be in position to win." Race announcer Richard Fries, who has seen his share of top notch 'cross racing, started tipping the popular New Englander as a podium contender for US cyclo-cross national championships in two weeks.
Snodden and Johnson were the top U23 finishers in second and third, while Josh Anthony was the third U23 in fourth overall, just ahead of U23 champion Craig..
The women's race saw a talented field with no less than three US champions break apart early. Verge Series leader Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles) bridged up to early leader Shauna Gillies-Smith (Gearworks/SRP), then drop her with half the race remaining to win the race, and in the process seal her first Verge Series title with one race still remaining. Gillies-Smith rode a strong race to finish second, while Jodi Groesbeck (Putney/West Hill) overcame an entanglement with snow fencing mid-race to pick up third on the day.
For the second week in a row, Gearworks/SRP teammates Anna Milkowski and Marianne Stover rode together for much of the race, finishing fourth and fifth.
U.S. junior national champion Jesse Anthony (Saturn Development) took another solo victory in the junior race, over GMBC's Jamey Driscoll and CCB's Konrad LeBas. Adam Snyder (DEVO/Balance Bar) picked up fourth, with Kevin Wolfson (NEBC/CycleLoft) in fifth.
Charlestown, RI rider Tim Haitz won the Men's 35+race, while Scott Wade took over the series lead from Mike Bernard by finishing second. U.S. National Champion Paul Curley picked up the win and retains the Verge Series lead in Men's 45+. Curtis Boivin won the men's B race with Matt Hersey keeping the series lead he has held since round 1. The C men's race winner was Eric Jenson, while Donna Lacassa won the women's C race and Kyle Foley the Cub Junior race. Randy Rusk, normally a bike racer, won the 5k running 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, armwarmers 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 included W.E. Stedman company, Caster's Bicycles & Fitness, Avie's Ski & Sports, Buckley Heating and Cooling, and Art & Soul - "A Paint Your Own Pottery Studio".
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; Maxxis International, committed to delivering high performance tires to the world; and BikeReg.com, the premier on-line registration company for cycling events.
The finals of the 2002 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series will be the UCI Cat 3 American Express Financial Advisors Cyclo-Cross, held on Sunday, December 8 in Merrimack, NH. Like the first five rounds of the Verge Series, it is a U.S. team selection event for the World Championships.
Photos
Images by Jeff Feddersen/CycloCrossWorld.com
- 2nd place finisher Shauna Gillies-Smith
- Shaun Snodden leading Mark McCormack
- Tyler Johnson grinds up the hill
- The always stylish Justin Lillie
- Shaun Snodden leading Johannes Huseby on the final lap
- Josh Anthony leans into the corner
Images by Paul Weiss/www.paulweiss.bz
- Alicia Genest and Katrina Davis with the Richard Sach team race together as National Champions
- Elite Womens winners Mary McConneloug confirms her win of the series
- Jesse Anthony leads into corner
- Jody Groesbeck leads
- Johannes Huseby of Independent Fabrications CCBVW leads Shaun Snodden
- Marriane Stover is sandwiched between Jodi and Kathryn Roszko
- Mens B field starts the race
- Mens B winners with Matt Hersey the series leader still winning
- Richard Sachs and his crew man the support pits
- Shaun Snodden leads Josh Anthony
- The Gearworks SRP womens cross team has a conference in the warm van
Results
Elite Men 1 Johannes Huseby (Independent Fabrication/CCB/VW Medford MA) 1.02.01 2 Shaun Snodden (Je James Sheffield UK) 3 Tyler Johnson (CYBC - RICHARD SACHS Chester CT U23) 0.16 4 Josh Anthony (Cyclocross World.com Beverly MA U23) 0.50 5 Adam Craig (Giant Corinth ME U23) 1.15 6 Mark McCormack (Saturn North Easton MA) 2.09 7 Matthew Svatek (Cannondale Wheelworks Carlisle MA) 2.24 8 Michael Broderick (Seven Cycles Chilmark MA) 9 Justin Lillie (Trek/VW West Lebanon NH) 2.50 10 Rob Hult (O'Neils Harvard MA) 3.00 11 Alec Donahue (NCC/BikeReg.com Northampton MA) 3.08 12 Adam Hodges (Myerson NCC/BikeReg.com Northampton MA) 3.20 13 Jeremy Powers (Team Devo Niantic CT U23) 3.28 14 Jonathan Bruno (Quad Cycles Sommerville MA) 3.39 15 J.d. Bilodeau (NCC / BikeReg.com Northampton MA) 4.41 16 Chris Peck (Wheelworks Cannondale Southbury CT) 4.53 17 Eugene Ruiter (Trek/VW Nashua NH) 5.01 18 Matthew Kraus (Independent Fabrication/CCB/VW Cambridge MA) 5.49 19 Jeff Leake (NCC / BikeReg.com Bennington VT) 6.31 20 Micah Thompson (Excel Sports Natick MA) 6.38 21 Nathan Rice (Catamount Burlington VT) 7.17 22 Amos Brumble (CCB / Volkswagon Westerly RI) 23 John Hanson (NECSA/Mike Fraysee Sports West Hartford CT) 24 Steve Roszko (NCC / BikeReg.com Northampton MA) 25 Daniel Coady (NCC / BikeReg.com Deerfield MA) Elite Women 1 Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles Chilmark MA) 40.39 2 Shauna Gilles-Smith (Gearworks/SRP Somerville MA) 0.41 3 Jodi Groesbeck (Putney / West Hill Keene NH) 1.36 4 Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/SRP Putney VT) 1.48 5 Marianne Stover (Gearworks/SRP Portland ME) 2.03 6 Kathryn Roszko (NCC / BikeReg.com Northampton MA) 2.51 7 Alicia Genest (Richard Sachs Amherst MA U23) 3.05 8 Katrina Davis (Sandy Hook CT) 3.15 9 Sara Cushman (Gearworks/SRP North Grafton MA) 3.26 10 Susan Maclean (Gearworks/SRP Plaistow NH) 3.34 11 Stephanie White (NH Junior Cycling Academy Bedford NH) 3.38 12 Kathy Sarvary (Midstate Cycling Club Luneburg MA) 13 Becky Sox (Dansko Wakefield RI) 14 MaryAnn Martinez (NEBC/Cycleloft Concord MA) One lap behind 15 Katherine Farago (NEBC/Cycleloft Burlington MA) Junior Men 1 Jesse (Anthony Saturn Development Beverly MA) 45.40 2 Jamey Driscoll (GMBC Invensys Jericho VT) 0.28 3 Konrad Lebas (CCB International Ansonia CT) 1.19 4 Adam Snyder (Balance Bar / Devo Westminster MA) 4.22 5 Kevin Wolfson (NEBC / CycleLoft Belmont MA) 6.12 6 Charles Marzot (Corner Cycle Cycling Club Middleboro MA) 7.08 7 Tucker Olander (Peerless/HNECC Windham NH) 8 Peter Stetson (Portland Velo Club Falmouth ME) 9 Charley Stetson (Portland Velo Falmouth ME) Masters Men 1 Tim Haitz (Team Dupont Charlestown RI) 46.45 2 Scott Wade (Gearworks Putney VT) 0.10 3 John Verheul (Ideal Tile Northampton MA) 0.34 4 Mark Stotz (NCC / BikeReg.com Easthampton MA) 0.35 5 Sam Morse (Mass Bay Road Club Cohasset MA) 0.38 6 Micheal Bernard (Arc-en-Ciel Millbury MA) 1.14 7 Paul Curley (Gearworks/SRP Taunton MA 45+) 1.30 8 Gary S. (Keblish Century-SBCG Brooklyn NY) 1.58 9 Bob Bisson (SRP Gearworks Fall River MA) 2.12 10 Mike Umbrell (Minuteman Road Club Waltham MA) 2.33 11 Eric Marro (Team BOB/Skofield Builders Nashua NH) 3.05 12 James Walsh (Cox Communications Wakefield RI) 3.17 13 Doug Aspinwall (NCC / BikeReg.com Easthampton MA) 3.19 14 Brian Sweeney (GEARWORKS Sterling MA) 3.42 15 Kevin Callahan (Bicycle Link Norwell MA) 3.51 16 Christopher Smith (Rage/Harpoon/Int.bike Roslindale MA) 4.04 17 Scott Collins (squadra casterama Coventry RI) 4.05 18 Ron Gutierrez (Sycip San Francisco CA) 4.06 19 David Schachte (Providence Velo Club Woonsocket RI 45+) 4.07 20 Jeff Gauthier (GMBC/Invensys Burlington VT) 4.08 21 Paul Nyberg (Eastern Bloc Cycling Club/ Benidorm Bikes Avon) 4.24 22 David Fagnant (Union Velo Cumberland RI) 4.45 23 Gene Petrella (Bean's/Lite Bites/CCCF North Andover MA) 5.23 24 Richard Brown (Plaistow NH) 5.38 25 Keith Button (Nottingham NH) 5.40 26 Mitch Medeiros (AFD New Bedford MA) 5.46 27 Roger Goulart (Bike Works New Bedford MA) 6.23 28 Larry Bettencourt (CCB Volkswagon Peabody MA) 6.42 One lap behind 29 William Keith (Bethel Cannondale New Farifield CT 45+) B Men 1 Curtis Boivin (Providence Velo Providence RI) 46.58 2 Matt Hersey (liquid motion So. Portland ME) 0.12 3 Noah Taylor (Peterborough NH) 0.25 4 Conor Coffey (CCB / Volkswagon Westerly RI) 0.51 5 Aron Molloy (Plymouth State College Manchester NH) 1.35 6 Christopher White (B.O.B. Windham NH) 1.42 7 Tom Hopper (REI/Team Novara Medway MA) 8 John Burns (Hingham MA) 9 Byron Holt (Somerville MA) 10 Alan Starrett (Bikeman/Bath Cycle Portland ME) 11 Jonny Bold (CCCC/Corner Cycle Marstons Mills MA) 2.03 12 Jonathan Lawrence (Portland ME) 2.09 13 David Keefe (Boston Bicycle Club Newton MA) 2.22 14 Michael Cole (Landrys-Litespeed Ashland MA) 15 Chris Harnish (People Cycle-Green Team East Falmouth MA) 16 Scott Livingston (Team Horst Engineering Vernon CT) 2.48 17 Gary S. (Keblish Century-SBCG Brooklyn NY) 2.52 18 Ryan Rumsey (Team Liquid Motion Portland ME) 3.11 19 Wade Summers (WebEvent.com / HVVC Southington CT) 20 Aron Millett (ECV Georgetown MA) 3.16 21 Matt Bodziony (Squadra Casterame Wakefield RI) 22 Rodney Nobrega (S&W Sports Exter NH) 3.26 23 Ethan Parsons (NCC/BikeReg.com Westhampton MA) 24 Daniel Abbe (Team Mountain City Warren MA) 3.50 25 Brian Clark (Exposition Wheelmen Manchester CT) 3.50 26 Mark Donahue (So ME Cycling Club S. Portland ME) 4.03 27 David Connery (Boston Bicycle Club Watertown MA) 4.16 28 John Wright (Boston Round Club Arlington MA) 4.47 29 Jerrry Hughes (REI/Team Novara Framingham MA) 4.47 30 Garvin Louie (Union Velo No Attleboro MA) 5.10 31 Forest Reid (Providence Velo Club Providence RI) 5.10 32 Joe Rodrigues (Bike Alley Springfield MA) 5.18 33 Hunter Pronovost (Grouppo Sportivo Cheshire CT) 5.18 34 Andrew Parsons (BRC/Vintage West Roxbury MA) 5.18 35 Ian Everard (Velocity Racing Somerville MA) 5.40 36 James Mccowan (Whitinsville MA) 5.42 37 Jeffrey Capobianco (Concord MA) 5.49 38 Nathan Mealey (NCC/Bikereg.com Westfield MA) 5.57 39 Chris Brown (Corner Cycle Cycling Club Falmouth MA) 5.57 40 Matthew Jamieson (Chester CT) 6.19 41 Brad Shuford (NCC / BikeReg.com Easthampton MA) 6.54 42 Richard Battaglia (Southern Maine CC Arlington MA) 7.01 43 Mark Wysocki (Pedro's Worcester MA) 44 Mark Robson (Team Bicycle Alley Willington CT) 45 Jeff Papineau (BOB Westfield MA) 8.47 46 Peter Hutchins (NCC/BikeReg.com) 47 Darren Crupi (Heart of New England Cycling Brooklyn NY) 9.17 48 Rory Mason (Stage 1 Cycling New Milford CT) 9.47 49 Matthew Crews (Peterborough NH) 10.17 One lap behind 50 Richard Rude (Redding CT) 51 John Reilly (Boston Cross Somerville MA) 52 Greg Black (Verge Test Pilot Gardiner MA) C Men 1 Eric Jenson (K2/Pedros Falmouth MA) 25.57 2 David Fredrickson (unattached Stoneham MA) 0.21 3 Michael Croft (Thread City Cyclers Washington CT) 0.21 4 Michael Harney (Waterford CT) 0.41 5 Peter Rondinone (NHCC Goffstown NH) 1.04 6 Wayne Maceyka (Harris Cyclery W. Newton MA) 1.08 7 Steven Bonadio (NEBC/Cycle Loft Arlington MA) 1.15 8 Kenneth Hamel (AFD/OSVC Warwick RI) 1.51 9 Michael Keough (Corner Cycles Sandwich MA) 2.15 10 David Baxter (Providence Velo Cranston RI) 2.27 11 Brian Bicki (Team Hawaian Chepachet RI) 2.39 12 Dave Beals (CBRC/CK Cycles Niskayuna NY) 2.47 13 Jason Arcelay (NEBC/Cycleloft/EMC Arlington MA) 2.48 14 Robert Connors (Yarmouth MA) 2.53 15 Chip Kent (Team Bicycle Alley Upton MA) 2.58 16 Paul Braus (Team Hawaian Chepachet RI) 3.03 17 Bill Doonan (NBW Cumberland RI) 3.13 18 Jeff Bousfield (Thread City Cyclers Manchester CT) 3.31 19 Lawrence King (Providence Velo Cranston RI) 3.43 20 Robert Bauer (Minuteman road Club Natick MA) 3.44 21 James Rawstrol (MRC Attleboro MA) 4.07 22 Nathanial Rex (Cycle Center/Stamford Fairfield CT) 4.46 23 Robert Desrosiers (Team Hawaian Woonsocket RI) 4.54 24 Nick Todd (West Hartford CT) 5.33 25 David Rioux (Boston Road Club Freetown MA) 5.53 26 James Dowling (Maine Cycling Club/Rainbow Buckfield ME) 6.16 27 Michael Medas (North Dighton MA) 6.59 28 Jose Monterroso (Union Velo Attleboro MA) 7.33 C Women 1 Donna LaCasse (BCA Lanesboro MA) 30.35 2 Daria Vander (Veer Exposition Wheelmen Manchester CT) 0.18 3 Cheryl Payne (Union Cycle Wrentham MA) 1.22 4 Amy Burrer (Bicycle Alley Bedford MA) 2.38 5 Samantha Slattery (Bedford MA) 3.46 Cub Juniors 1 Kyle Foley (Laurel Wallingford CT) 25.25
