Jeremy Powers claiming victory at the Gran Prix of Gloucester last year. GP Gloucester kicks off the 2015 Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series on September 26th + 27th.
This cyclo-cross season, the Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart will honor its long history by making the 2015 edition of the Series the best yet. New England is well-known for delivering quality events, and the Verge NECXS’s three weekends of racing are heralded across the US as the best from among New England’s unparalleled events. Top pros from around the country – and even from across the globe – come to New England soil to battle for the coveted overall Series win, always a tight competition. In addition to UCI Elite and U23 Elite crowns for both men and women, amateur racers are a offered a chance to compete for Series points in ten categories.
Series staff have been working hard to ensure both Elite and amateur racers are offered a season of events unrivaled anywhere. Redesigned race courses and more pro-only sections promise the races will be as fun to race as they will be to spectate. With kid-friendly activities, including races for kids and cub juniors, the morning’s amateur racers will be able to bring along a whole cheering section. Partnerships with breweries and restaurants add up to festival-like events with a focus on the fare that makes New England great.
Helen Wyman, left, leads an all-star group of Meredith Miller, Kaitie Antonneau, Caroline Mani, and Crystal Anthony though the barriers at Gloucester. Photo: Todd Prekaski
One of New England’s biggest cycling events in any discipline, the Gran Prix of Gloucester, launches the 2015 New England cyclo-cross season at Stage Fort Park on September 26th and 27th. The premier race in a week of racing known as New England’s Holy Week of Cyclo-cross, Gloucester will be bigger than ever this year. This year, Race Promoter and Verge NECXS Vice President Paul Boudreau has designed a fully updated course at the picturesque seaside venue.
“We’re thrilled to be the inaugural race of the Verge Series once again this year,” says Boudreau. “The three races in the Series rank among the best in the country, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”
This year’s Cycle-Smart International, on November 7th and 8th, will mark a momentous occasion: the 25th edition of the race. As the oldest UCI cyclo-cross race in the US, the CSI is still going strong. This year’s race will be a celebration of the storied heritage of this race and its place as the crown jewel of New England cyclo-cross. The JAM Fund will be on hand raising money for the development of future cyclo-cross stars. With Ellen Noble on the roster and Stephen Hyde a recent graduate, the JAM Fund program proves that New England’s continued ability to churn out cycling talent.
Myerson reflects on 25 years of race promotion, saying “it’s hard for us to get our heads around the fact that we’ve been running this race for 25 years, and most of my staff has worked on the race for 15 years or more. Still, we are always looking to make small changes and improvements, and that’s why our course is legendary for its flow, no matter what the weather.”
The JAM Fund’s Ellen Noble, winner of the U23 Elite Women’s jersey last year, looks poised to have a great season of racing in 2015. Photo by Todd Prekaski
New England’s favorite course serves as the Series grand finale at the NBX Gran Prix of ‘Cross. Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island hosts the final chapter of the 2015 edition of the Verge NECXS on December 5th and 6th, where final battles for points will be fought. The course is the essence of cyclo-cross in New England: twists and turns, rooty descents, and challenging dismounts.
Only the true champions will emerge from NBX’s trademark beach run and technically challenging sections victorious. The three weekends of the Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series require the Series winner to excel on a power course as well as they shine through the toughest conditions New England can throw their way. Watch the races unfold in person, by following tweets at @VergeNECXS.
