Wells, Dickey Win Windswept RI #1
By: PRESS RELEASE (NEcyclocross.com) :: On a day when the chilly west wind reminded every racer they were in New England in December, Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai) and Mackenzie Dickey (Bicycle Alley) won the Elite Men and Women’s races, respectively at the penultimate race of the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, the WE Stedman Grand Prix in South Kingston, Rhode Island. Wells rode an impressive race and soloed off for his win, while Dickey outsprinted breakaway colleague Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) in the final 200 meters.
A man who learned his important cyclo-cross lessons on the Verge NECCS
circuit, Wells waited until the second-to-last race to make his 2005 debut.
But the 2004 Olympian impressed the stacked men’s field with his strength
and technical acuity on a course that combined windy open fields with
twisting fast wooded sections. Wells and Barry Wicks (Kona) pushed the pace
on an already scorching fast first lap, opening a decent gap by the
half-way point. Not waiting for an invitation, Adam Craig (Giant) set out
after the leading pair, a decision that proved smart as the race went on.
Wicks cracked on the second lap, leaving Wells on his own for the rest of
the day. Craig motored up to within a handful of seconds of Wells but never
made the juncture. After drifting back to the four-rider chase group for a
couple laps, Craig used his superior descending and bike handling to sneak
off again, this time for good. A relaxed Wells bunny-hopped the barriers,
giving the wind-chilled crowd a show, and contributing to his eventual
29-second margin over Craig. Verge NECCS points leader Tim Johnson
(Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) took advantage of a technical bobble by
Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly-Pool Gel) on the penultimate lap to grab the
final podium spot over Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), who had been caught
behind Powers at the critical moment. Johnson goes into Sunday’s Series
Finals with a tenuous hold on the jersey over McCormack.
“This was the perfect race to prepare for next week’s Nationals,” said
Wells. “I made the trip out from Colorado looking to get some confidence
and I’m glad I did.”
Dickey, who entered the day third in the points chase, used the absence of
Series leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) to her full
advantage. Together with Bruno Roy, second in the Series entering Saturday,
Dickey opened a convincing gap on the first two laps. The leading duo
traded pulls into the harsh wind, with neither able to make enough of an
impression to drop the other. The circumstances suited Dickey’s skills
best, as the powerful rider bided her time knowing she’d win a sprint.
Dickey outkicked Bruno Roy in the final run to the line. A first-year
‘cross racer, Amy Wallace (Verizon Wireless-Wheelworks) pulled her best
result of the season, rounding out the top-three.
“You never want to leave it to a sprint if you can help it,” said Dickey.
“But that kind of finish suits me better than it did Mo.”
The 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by
Cycle-Smart, concludes on Sunday with the Caster’s Grand Prix in Warwick,
RI.
W.E. Steadman Grand Prix
2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series Round 5
South Kingston, Rhode Island, December 3, 2005
Elite Men
1. Todd Wells (USA) Hyundai-GT, 55:36
2. Adam Craig (USA) Giant, 0:29
3. Tim Johnson (USA) Louis Garneau/Cyclocrossworld.com, 0:42
4. Mark McCormack (USA) Clif Bar, 1:02
5. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly, 1:07
6. Jesse Anthony (USA) Team Cliff Bar, 1:07
7. Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona, 1:09
8. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona, 1:25
9. Greg Reain (CAN) Stevens International, 1:25
10. Matt White (USA) FiordiFrutta Elite Cycling Team, 1:52
Elite Women
1. Mackenzie Dickey (USA) Team Bicycle Alley, 41:59
2. Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Independent Fabrication, 0:05
3. Amy Wallace (USA) Verizon Wireless Wheelworks, 1:22
4. Anna Milkowski (USA) Gearworks/Spinarts, 1:33
5. Rebecca Wellons (USA) Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling, 2:14
6. Stephanie White (USA) Gearworks/Spin Arts, 2:57
7. Sara Cushman (USA) Gear Works/Spin Arts, 3:03
8. Marci Titus Hall (USA) Powerbar, 3:03
9. Cris Rothfuss (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft, 3:05
10. Rebecca Cooke (USA), 3:14
The 2005 Verge NECCS is sponsored by Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling
apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions
for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines: Greyhound
Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; Felt
Bicycles, builders of the best bicycles in the world: BikeReg.com, the
solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; and
Litmus Designs, integrating web technology and graphic design solutions for
your business needs.
Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
October 15 - Downeast Cyclo-Cross, New Gloucester, ME
November 12 - ChainBiter 7.0 Cyclo-Cross, Farmington, CT
November 13 - Cycle-Smart International Cyclo-Cross, Northampton, MA
November 26 - Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross, Sterling, MA
December 3 - W. E. Stedman Co. Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, S. Kingstown, RI
December 4 - Caster's Grand Prix, Warwick, RI
For more information on the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross
Series please go to www.necyclocross.com
A man who learned his important cyclo-cross lessons on the Verge NECCS
circuit, Wells waited until the second-to-last race to make his 2005 debut.
But the 2004 Olympian impressed the stacked men’s field with his strength
and technical acuity on a course that combined windy open fields with
twisting fast wooded sections. Wells and Barry Wicks (Kona) pushed the pace
on an already scorching fast first lap, opening a decent gap by the
half-way point. Not waiting for an invitation, Adam Craig (Giant) set out
after the leading pair, a decision that proved smart as the race went on.
Wicks cracked on the second lap, leaving Wells on his own for the rest of
the day. Craig motored up to within a handful of seconds of Wells but never
made the juncture. After drifting back to the four-rider chase group for a
couple laps, Craig used his superior descending and bike handling to sneak
off again, this time for good. A relaxed Wells bunny-hopped the barriers,
giving the wind-chilled crowd a show, and contributing to his eventual
29-second margin over Craig. Verge NECCS points leader Tim Johnson
(Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) took advantage of a technical bobble by
Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly-Pool Gel) on the penultimate lap to grab the
final podium spot over Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), who had been caught
behind Powers at the critical moment. Johnson goes into Sunday’s Series
Finals with a tenuous hold on the jersey over McCormack.
“This was the perfect race to prepare for next week’s Nationals,” said
Wells. “I made the trip out from Colorado looking to get some confidence
and I’m glad I did.”
Dickey, who entered the day third in the points chase, used the absence of
Series leader Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) to her full
advantage. Together with Bruno Roy, second in the Series entering Saturday,
Dickey opened a convincing gap on the first two laps. The leading duo
traded pulls into the harsh wind, with neither able to make enough of an
impression to drop the other. The circumstances suited Dickey’s skills
best, as the powerful rider bided her time knowing she’d win a sprint.
Dickey outkicked Bruno Roy in the final run to the line. A first-year
‘cross racer, Amy Wallace (Verizon Wireless-Wheelworks) pulled her best
result of the season, rounding out the top-three.
“You never want to leave it to a sprint if you can help it,” said Dickey.
“But that kind of finish suits me better than it did Mo.”
The 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by
Cycle-Smart, concludes on Sunday with the Caster’s Grand Prix in Warwick,
RI.
W.E. Steadman Grand Prix
2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series Round 5
South Kingston, Rhode Island, December 3, 2005
Elite Men
1. Todd Wells (USA) Hyundai-GT, 55:36
2. Adam Craig (USA) Giant, 0:29
3. Tim Johnson (USA) Louis Garneau/Cyclocrossworld.com, 0:42
4. Mark McCormack (USA) Clif Bar, 1:02
5. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly, 1:07
6. Jesse Anthony (USA) Team Cliff Bar, 1:07
7. Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona, 1:09
8. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona, 1:25
9. Greg Reain (CAN) Stevens International, 1:25
10. Matt White (USA) FiordiFrutta Elite Cycling Team, 1:52
Elite Women
1. Mackenzie Dickey (USA) Team Bicycle Alley, 41:59
2. Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Independent Fabrication, 0:05
3. Amy Wallace (USA) Verizon Wireless Wheelworks, 1:22
4. Anna Milkowski (USA) Gearworks/Spinarts, 1:33
5. Rebecca Wellons (USA) Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling, 2:14
6. Stephanie White (USA) Gearworks/Spin Arts, 2:57
7. Sara Cushman (USA) Gear Works/Spin Arts, 3:03
8. Marci Titus Hall (USA) Powerbar, 3:03
9. Cris Rothfuss (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft, 3:05
10. Rebecca Cooke (USA), 3:14
The 2005 Verge NECCS is sponsored by Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling
apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions
for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines: Greyhound
Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; Felt
Bicycles, builders of the best bicycles in the world: BikeReg.com, the
solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; and
Litmus Designs, integrating web technology and graphic design solutions for
your business needs.
Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series
October 15 - Downeast Cyclo-Cross, New Gloucester, ME
November 12 - ChainBiter 7.0 Cyclo-Cross, Farmington, CT
November 13 - Cycle-Smart International Cyclo-Cross, Northampton, MA
November 26 - Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross, Sterling, MA
December 3 - W. E. Stedman Co. Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross, S. Kingstown, RI
December 4 - Caster's Grand Prix, Warwick, RI
For more information on the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross
Series please go to www.necyclocross.com
posted by Ryan Amirault at Monday, December 05, 2005
