McConneloug adds yet another victory

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Dry skies with bright sunshine, temperatures in the high 30s and a soft breeze in off the bay were ideal conditions for this classic season ending race. At the end of the day, Mary McConneloug (Kenda / Seven / No Tubes) came away with a race finale win and a series win in the 2009 Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series.

In contrast to yesterday's course, today racers met the beach twice including once at the beginning of a run-up. Also reintroduced from last year was a section of course affectionately known as "the gut" which is a series of 180-degree turns with soft, sandy corners and plenty of roots.

The elite women's race broke up quickly from the gun, with a two-woman lead group of Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club) and McConneloug. Behind them were Laura Van Gilder (C3 Athletes Serving Athletes), Anna Barensfeld (Minuteman Road Club) and Gesa Bruechmann (Stevens Racing). While Smith and McConneloug were matching each other move for move, Van Gilder shed Barensfeld who, in turn, shed Bruechmann. It was not until the final lap that McConneloug was able to make a decisive move on Smith, opening a gap just large enough to cruise through the finish line and relish her sixth consecutive victory.

With her victory, McConneloug took the overall series victory for the first time since 2004. Smith's second place gave her a final series placing of third, behind the absent Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing). Also absent was Natasha Elliott (Garneau/Club Chaussure/Ogilvy) whose great early season gave her fourth overall. Fifth in the series and eleventh for the day was Amanda Carey (Kenda/trainwitheric.com).

Results