Bessette, McCormack lead Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series

As the wet days of another New England October drip away, Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) and Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) lead the series standings in 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart in the Elite Women’s and Men’s races, respectively. Bessette and McCormack won their respective races in the flooded mud bogs of the 2005 Downeast Cyclo-Cross in New Gloucester, Maine, October 15th and will hit the heart of the Verge NECCS races with a good head of steam.

Bessette has been the uncontested queen of North American cyclo-cross thus far in 2005, marking her return to the ‘cross circuit with a string of impressive wins. For his part, four-time defending Verge NECCS champion McCormack has held his fine form from the road season into the fall. However, McCormack figures to face a serious challenge through the remaining five Verge NECCS races from Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), whose rapid grab at UCI points will see the 2001 National Champion lining up on the front of the start grid for the rest of the season. Defending Under-23 series and national champion, Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar), continues to go from strength to strength. His regular position in the top-five in the Elite Men’s race could cement him another series title.

Last year’s Masters 35+ series champ, Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle), continues his run on the jersey, leading after New Gloucester. But Bold could face a real challenge from first-year masters racer Rob Hult (Fior di Frutta). New York’s Christopher Long (Independent Fabrication) leads the 45+ category after the first race. In what promises to be a season-long battle, Jerome Townsend (Bicycle Alley) leads in the Junior series standings. Canadian Pascal Bussibres (Abbrsuz LA GoeLiche) heads up the B race series. Pip Bannister (Putney-West Hill) leads the Masters 55+ while Jarred Reutar (44Velo) is tops in the Cub Junior category.

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; 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.