Johnson reclaims New England bragging rights

Tim Johnson (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) proved that he is not just a mud lover when he won the Gran Prix of Gloucester, affectionately known as the New England Worlds, on a dry and fast venue at the Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts on Sunday.

The reigning US National Cyclo-cross Champion outpaced his two teammates Jeremy Powers, who won the previous day placed second and Jamey Driscoll rode in for third.

“Today we were beating up on each other,” Johnson said. “Luckily for me I was able to get away today. But to be out there putting the hurt on each other was a lot of fun, pain and agony at the same time -- It was a blast.”

“I’m pleased with my ride today especially how yesterday went, my back was sore but that is all pretty typical of Gloucester,” said Driscoll who placed second at CrossVegas in September. “I’m pleased with how I improved today.”

“We swept the podium quite a few times last year and I think that not all the guys were on their top form last year,” he added. “Hopefully we can do the same thing this year with tougher battles because it is more gratifying.”

The Grand Prix of Gloucester marked rounds three and four of the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy (NACT) series.

Italians lead the chase for Cannondale trio

Jeremy Powers lit up the start of the men’s 60-minute race with his trademark attack that resulted in a sizable gap over a long line of chasing riders.

Ryan Trebon (KONA-FSA) was forced to do much of the work to close down the gap with Power’s teammate Johnson nestled on his wheel ready to counter attack. Johnson jumped around Trebon and successfully bridged across to his teammate on the fourth lap and the pair worked together to establish a 15-second lead.

The chasing group included Trebon along with Italians Davide Frattini (Hudz-Subaru) and Luca Damiani (Kenda-Geargrinder), Swiss rider Valentin Scherz and Tristan Schouten. The group was later joined by Jesse Anthony (Cal Giant-Specialized) and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com).

Driscoll wasted no time establishing himself in solo third place chase for his two teammates Powers and Johnson at the end of the fourth lap. At the same time, the chase behind was reduced to Damiani, Frattini and Anthony when Scherz, Trebon and Schouten fell off pace.

The crowds roared for the Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com trio but they were not the only natives of New England represented during the double header ‘cross weekend. Many of the north-east’s renowned cross talents showed up to contest the ‘local championships’ and for some it marked the biggest race on the season calendar.

Not too far behind the front row riders was local Gloucesterman, Shawn Milne (Antero Resources - Seaside Cycle) who placed 29th in the previous day’s opening round.

Milne, a professional road racer, improved on his performance racing amongst the top 20 contenders alongside his teammate Philip Wong during the second round. Like many other New England competitors, he benefited from the unconditional support of family members and friends out to cheer over a glass of a Great Brewers.

For a very brief moment, Driscoll made contact with his teammates and the three riders orbited the circuit with five laps to go. Johnson’s relentless attacks to ride solo off the front caused Driscoll to fall off pace. Powers yo-yoed between the two in pursuit of Johnson.

“They let up for a little bit and made sure I closed the gap except I think Tim wanted to race his bike,” Driscoll said. “Jeremy was nice enough to go back to get me up there but I didn’t have the snap because I was so pinned, so in the red, and I didn’t have the snap to make the bridge.”

Powers did not give up the win easily and when he made contact with Johnson he attacked several times. But it was Johnson who took the final dig and cemented a slim six-second lead on the last lap, heading to the finish line for a hometown victory.

Powers soloed in for second place ahead of his teammate Dricsoll in third. The pair of Italians were unable to close down the gap to Driscoll and subsequently sprinted for fourth place won by Damiani and Frattini settled for fifth. Anthony rolled in several seconds later for sixth place.

“Davide and I are friends but a race is a race,” Damiani said. “We definitely don’t try to kill each other but we don’t help each other either. We got to the last corner and I think it is nice when a race finishes like a race and the riders don’t just hold hands.”

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Full Results
1Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com1:02:20
2Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com0:00:15
3James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com0:00:40
4Luca Damiani (Ita) Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Geargrinder0:01:19
5Davide Frattini (Ita) Hudz-SubaruRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jesse Anthony (USA) California Giant-Specialized0:01:47
7Valentin Scherz (Swi) Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution Wheelworks0:02:17
8Tristan Schouten (USA) cyclocrossracing.com/Blue/Rolf0:02:18
9Justin Lindine (USA) BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / ScottRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jerome Townsend (USA) BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / Scott0:02:19
11Derrick St John (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure-Ogilvy0:02:48
12Dylan McNicholas (USA) Pedro's0:02:55
13Adam Myerson (USA) Cycle-Smart0:03:07
14Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona0:03:33
15Luke Keough (USA) Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross0:03:46
16Philip Wong (USA) Seaside Cycle - Antero Resources0:04:08
17Shawn Milne (USA) Antero Resources - Seaside Cycle0:04:13
18Nicholas Weighall (USA) California Giant-Specialized0:04:33
19Steve Fisher (USA) Rad Racing Nw-Hagens Berman Llp0:04:36
20Matthew O'Keefe (USA) Cyclocrossworld.comRow 19 - Cell 2
21Evan McNeely (Can) EMD Serono / Specialized0:04:54
22Simon Lambert-Lemay (Can) SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy0:05:10
23Zachary Hughes (Can)0:05:21
24Nicholas Keough (USA) Champion Systems p/b Keough Cyclocross0:05:27
25Christian Favata (USA) Favata's Tablerock Tours and Bikes0:05:28
26Dan Chabanov (USA) NYCross.com / CBRC0:05:34
27Thierry Laliberté (Can) Xprezo - Borsao0:05:50
28Jesse Keough (USA) Champion Systems p/b Keough CyclocrossRow 27 - Cell 2
29Cary Fridrich (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy0:05:52
30Aroussen Laflamme (USA)0:06:00
31William Goodfellow (Can) Ride with Rendall0:06:03
32Brian Wilichoski (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com0:06:08
33Shaun Adamson (Can) (Can) Cycle-SmartRow 32 - Cell 2
34Manny Goguen (USA) BikeReg.com / Joe's Garage / ScottRow 33 - Cell 2
35David Wilcox (USA) Pedro's Grassroots Cycling ClubRow 34 - Cell 2
36Colin Reuter (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA CyclesRow 35 - Cell 2
37John Burns (USA) Bikeman.comRow 36 - Cell 2
38Stephen Pierce (USA) Cambridge Bicycle-Igleheart FramesRow 37 - Cell 2
39Kevin Wolfson (USA) Independent FabricationRow 38 - Cell 2
40Peter Bradshaw (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad AlchemyRow 39 - Cell 2
41Michael Wissell (USA) B2C2Row 40 - Cell 2
42Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Euro-sports.caRow 41 - Cell 2
43Greg Whitney (USA) B2C2 p/b BolocoRow 42 - Cell 2
44John Peterson (USA) www.bikebarnracing.comRow 43 - Cell 2
45Pascal Bussieres (Can) Team Spirit/Cannondale pb Rhus ElementiRow 44 - Cell 2
46Peter Hurst (USA) AXA Equitable Cycling Team/CRCARow 45 - Cell 2
47Marc-Andre Daigle (Can) Garneau/ClubChaussures/OgilyRenaudRow 46 - Cell 2
48Ryan O'Hara (USA)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Michael Hemme (USA) CourageRow 48 - Cell 2
50Ryan Kelly (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA CyclesRow 49 - Cell 2
51Conor O'Brien (Can) EMD Serono SpecializedRow 50 - Cell 2
52Collin Huston (USA) MootsRow 51 - Cell 2
53Corey Knowles (USA) Team ROGRow 52 - Cell 2
54Nick Dale (USA) Raleigh All Stars p/b Southeastern OrthoRow 53 - Cell 2
55Isaac Howe (USA)Row 54 - Cell 2
56James Harmon (USA) 503 Cycleworx/LHCCRow 55 - Cell 2
57Cort Cramer (USA) Svelte CyclesRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jeremy Kimmel (USA) Sexual CamelRow 57 - Cell 2
59Pierre Vanden Borre (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad AlchemyRow 58 - Cell 2
60Adam Snyder (USA) Team JamisRow 59 - Cell 2
61Kiernan Orange (Can) Ride with RendallRow 60 - Cell 2
62Tom Gosselin (USA) FRANK Bikes p/b Kennebunkport Bicycle Co.Row 61 - Cell 2
63Joshua Friedman (USA) NYC VeloRow 62 - Cell 2
64Alistair Sponsel (USA) Van Dessel Factory TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Joshua Lehmann (USA) Pedro's Race TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Rodrigo Moraes (Bra)Row 65 - Cell 2
67Daniel Zotter (USA) Team ROGRow 66 - Cell 2
68David Sommerville (USA) Cyfac-Champion System p/b Revolution WheelworksRow 67 - Cell 2
69Jonathan Awerbuch (USA) SweetOpenRoads.comRow 68 - Cell 2

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Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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