October 12/06 12:54 pm - Verge NECCS Opens with Maine Double

Posted by Editor on 10/12/06
 

Verge NECCS Opens with Maine Double

The 2006 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series opens October 14-15 in New Gloucester, Maine with a pair of Downeast Cyclo-Cross events. Using the flexible and tortuous Pineland Farm's site, Downeast races dish out a rugged mix of 'cross challenges, creating the most demanding lap on the Verge NECCS. New for 2006, both days of Downeast will carry UCI Cat 2 status, attracting points-hungry racers from across the Northeast.

"We re-designed the course after last year's tractor pull in the mud," said organizer John Grenier. "The course at Pineland Farms is something that takes your breath away, and I'm not talking about the beautiful fall foliage! There will be plenty of blotchy red cheeks to match the leaves. Each of the two courses emphasizes different skill sets. Day One has short hard efforts without many long breaks while the day Two has a couple of fast technical descents that will allow for more recovery but require more skill.

"Each year we've grown bigger and better and now that we have stepped up and made it a two-day UCI Event we feel it will become one of the premier events in the Northeast," said Grenier.

Downeast expects to host the usual New England favorites 2005 Verge NECCS champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com, Mark McCormack and Jesse Anthony (ClifShot), Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) and Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) and defending Verge NECCS champ Mo Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) on the Elite women's side.

Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series

October 14 - Downeast Cyclocross #1 New Gloucester, ME
October 15 - Downeast Cyclocross #2 New Gloucester, ME
November 4 - Chainbiter 8.0 Farmington, CT
November 5 - Cycle-Smart International Northampton, MA
November 25 - Bay State Cyclocross Sterling, MA
December 9 - W.E. Steadman Grand Prix S. Kingston, RI
December 10 - Caster's Cyclocross Warwick, RI

For more information on the 2006 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series please go to www.necyclocross.com