Johnson claims Providence victory

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Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld) ensured the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series’ sixth event finished in the same fashion the previous day’s fifth round did: with him standing on top of the podium.

There was a hard start from elite and U-23 series leaders Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs-RGM-Radix) and Luke Keough (Champion Systems), who were one-two on to the dirt. It looked like there was mutiny afoot as Team Fuji rider Davide Frattini pulled through in the first lap, attacking and creating a gap though the BJ’s Wholesale Club barriers. However Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld’s Johnson and Jamey Driscoll were able to take control with Johnson resuming his role on the front, pushing a group of eight on the finishing straight.

Champion System’s Chris Jones continued to make waves by attacking, forcing Johnson to chase, bringing Driscoll, Timmerman and Jerome Townsend (BikeReg.com-Joe's Garage-IF) with him. Timmerman looked to be in a rough spot and fell away from the group shortly after.

Driscoll, on the other hand, was just heating up, attacking the group of four and quickly gaining a 10 second gap. The chase proved to be too hot for Townsend, who fell back, leaving Johnson to attack Jones in hope of bridging to his team-mate. Once he made contact, there was no stopping the two New England cross veterans. The only separation between them came when Driscoll bobbled on the bell lap, allowing Johnson to solo in to victory.

The race for third was hot with Timmerman needing a podium finish to retain his leader’s jersey. Timmerman and Townsend caught the seemingly struggling Jones with five laps remaining. Timmerman got clear one lap later, racing like a true champion in defense of his Verge Series Leader’s jersey.

Jones would not relent and caught the Sachs rider at the California Giant Bowl with two laps remaining. The two matched each other move for move until Timmerman tripped up on the stairs, allowing Jones a gap. Jones threw down the gauntlet on the pavement, emphatically finishing third for the second time this weekend.

Timmerman’s fourth place cost him the series leader’s jersey but his effort gained him the admiration of the fans. Johnson’s third consecutive Series victory earned him the right to pull on the Verge NECCS Leader’s Jersey.

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