Wyman a class above

The field for the Elite Women was easily one of the best to ever toe the line in New England. In addition to the British Champion and eventual winner, Wyman, spectators were treated to Wyman's compatriot, Gabby Day (Renner Custom Cyclocross Team), Mid-Atlantic superstar Laura Van Gilder (C3 p/b Mellow Mushroom) and former New Zealand National Champ Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal). Also at the starting block were locals Amy Dombroski (Crankbrothers Race Club) in her final stateside appearance of the season and Lea Davison (Specialized Racing) who is coming off a top-10 at the Mountain Bike World Championships and is gunning for a place on the US squad for the 2012 Olympics.

From the starting gun, Wyman showed that she was the class of the field. Taking the holesot, she started to extend a lead immediately. Wyman proved the adage "smooth is fast" by riding completely smoothly and putting almost two minutes into the remainders of a shattered field. On the first lap, there was a bit of a pile-up coming off the first beach section, and Van Gilder fell behind, allowing Dombroski to take second position alone. It looked like it would be a race for third between Van Gilder, Andrea Smith (LadiesFirst Racing), Day and Sally Annis (crossrestults.com p/b JRA Cycles). From the back, because she didn't have a ranking coming in, Davison came roaring through the Van Gilder group. She seemed right at home in the thick mud. "I had a blast out there today," said the Olympic hopeful.

Able to drive hard, Davison looked like she had third place wrapped up until Dombroski got caught up in the course tape and had her derailleur break shortly after the first pit, forcing her to run the balance of the final lap. Gamely though, and to the delight of her supporters, Dombroski didn't give up and ran through to the finish, visibly upset by the mechanical, but still in 8th place.

With Dombroski out of the picture, Davison turned up the throttle, further opening the gap to Van Gilder and the Pennsylvania rider couldn't bring back. Van Gilder held off a hard-charging group of Smith, Annis and Day for third. With the other three rounding out the top six.

Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Helen Wyman (GBr) KONA FACTORY TEAM0:39:13
2Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing0:01:56
3Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3 pb Mellow Mushroom0:02:22
4Andrea Smith (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:02:39
5Sally Annis (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA cycles0:03:20
6Gabriella Day (GBr) RENNER CUSTOM CYCLOCROSS TEAM0:03:29
7Elle Anderson (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:03:38
8Amy Dombroski (USA) CRANKBROTHERS RACE CLUB0:03:43
9Linnea Koons (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal0:04:50
10Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:05:36
11Catherine Sterling (USA) Bikeman.com0:06:08
12Rebecca Wellons (USA) Quad Cycles0:06:31
13Ann D'Ambruoso (USA) LadiesFirst RacingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Rebecca Blatt (USA) Team Kenda Tire p/b Geargrinder0:06:56
15Frances Morrison (USA) J.A.M. Fund/NCC0:06:58
16Sheila Vibert (USA) Sunapee Racing TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Cassandra Maximenko (USA) silverbull centralwheel0:07:59
18Nancy Labbe-Giguere (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:09:03
19Lauren Kling (USA) New England Athletic Cyclocross0:10:09
20Molly Hurford (USA) Team Rockstar Games - Signature Cycles0:10:42
21Marian Jamison (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:11:35
DNSChristina Tamilio (USA) LadiesFirst RacingRow 21 - Cell 2

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