U-23 National Champion Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) winning in Northampton.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The leaders make their way up the steepest run-up on lap two.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Michael Van Den Ham (Red Truck-Garneau) takes the win ahead of team-mate Raphael Gagne.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ellen Noble (USA) Jam-NCC-Vittoria takes the barriers during the final laps of the U23 womens race.(Image credit: Dejan Smaic / SportifImages)
Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart), Joachim Parbo, and others racing up a steep climb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Look Park course had quite a bit of zig-zagging on the grass field(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Cameron Dodge riding in fourth place during lap one.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Elite Men struggle to get up the steepest hill(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Cyclesmart Sat Women leading his team-mate Raphael Gagne through the long sand pit(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Joachim Parbo (Challenge Tires) riding near the leaders on lap one(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rapheal Gagne (Red Truck-Garneau) leading on lap one(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Elite Men’s field had 94 racers(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Michael Van Den Ham (Red Truck-Garneau) took the hole-shot.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The run-up was one of the most difficult so far this season.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jesse Keough (Keough Cyclocross) finishing up lap four(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
A racer struggles to get climb over the roots and rocks on the steepest run-up(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Michael Van Den Ham (Red Truck-Garneau) credited his team-mate Raphael Gagne with helping him earn the win.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Anthony Clark (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) edges out Mark McConnell for third place in a sprint finish.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Cameron Dodge running the barriers with one lap to go.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Scott Smith (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) digs deep with less than a lap remaining.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Anthony Clark (Squid Bikes) racing to third place on a great battle with Mark McConnell (Hot Sauce)(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Raphael Gagne (Red Truck) and Michael Van Den Ham approach the barriers with less than two laps remaining.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rapheal Gagne bunny-hopped the barriers every lap while his Red Truck Michael Van Den Ham ran them.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The huge men’s field makes their way up the rocky run-up(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
M. Belander-Barrette (Opus) running the barriers during the fifth lap.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Former Danish Champion Joachim Parbo (Challenge Tires) on the front row(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Derrick St. John (Silber Pro Cycling) at the start(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Emma White (Cyclocrossworld.com) leading Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) during lap two(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jennifer Nordham (Hudson) cresting a long run-up(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Elite Women claw their way up the steep run-up on lap two.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jenna Greaser (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) leading Ellen Noble and Emma White up a steep run-up on lap two.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Emma White (Cyclocrossworld.com) leading Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) during lap one(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Catharine Sterling (Bikeman) riding in the top ten on lap one(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Natasha Elliot (Red Truck-Garneau) passing by all the team tents(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Natasha Elliot (Red Truck-Garneau) leading Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) on lap one(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
JAM Fund team-mates Jena Greaser and Ellen Noble before the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) take the hole-shot(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jenna Greaser (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) lost contact with the leader on lap two(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rebecca Wellons (Bikeway Source) running the barriers on lap four(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) bites into the chocolate chip cookie that was given to the winner.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
(L to R) Elite Women’s Podium- Emma White (Cyclocrosworld.com) 2nd, Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) 1st, Kathleeen Lysakowski (Joe’s Garage)(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Emma White (Cyclocrossworld.com) congratulates Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) after the race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rebecca Wellons (Bikeway Source) at the top of one of the run-ups.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) was smiling with 500 meters to go.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kathleen Lysakowski (Joe’s Garage) riding to a third place finish.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Emma White (Cyclocrossworld.com) keeping pace with Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) near the end of lap three(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) descending a section of course only used during the pro races(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Megan Chinburg leading Britlee Bowman (House Industries) on the steep run-up(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Newly crowned U-23 Pam Am Champion Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) was all smiles before her race today.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Michael Van Den Ham (Red Truck-Garneau) finished first in the 25th edition of the Cycle-Smart International, just ahead of his team-mate and Canadian Champion Raphael Gagne. Anthony Clark (Squd Bikes) secured the last spot on the podium in a sprint finish against mark McConnell (Hot Sauce Cycling)
The new Red Truck-Garneau team put on a clinic today. Gagne and Van Den Ham took turns at the front and were able to distance themselves from their competitors by the end of the second lap. From that point on they rode an effective two-man time trial that consistently increased the gap to the chasers.
“That was absolutely a team victory with Raf”, remarked Van Den Ham. “We worked really well together a couple weeks ago at the Canadian National Championships, when Raf took the win”.
Van Den Ham continued, “I’m so happy to take the win today but it never would have been possible without Raf. He pulled so much and that fatigued him a bit on the last lap. This is my first UCI win, period…this is the biggest result of my career hands down.”
The course at Look Park included a considerable amount of time on the grassy field, but also a large chunk of time in the woods on a plateau at the back of the course. The loose, rocky, rooty run-up was, as usual, the most popular place for the huge number of spectators to view the race.
The course also included a technical descent that had given the Elite Women fits. The men, however, seemed to have little problem with it.
The Elite Men will race again at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Look Park in Northampton.
Women's Race
Ellen Noble (JAM/NCC/Vittoria) put her head down with two laps remaining and sailed away from Emma White (Cyclocrossworld.com), winning by eight seconds over White. Kate Lysakowski (Joe’s Garage) took the last step on the podium, finishing third.
Ellen Noble took the hole-shot but the long back and forth section on grass allowed Emma White to use her road-racing prowess to get by Noble and lead for a considerable period. But, Noble was not content following White.
“I have a really hard time sitting in and racing with other people so I started to get a little antsy”, remarked Noble. “So, I made a move and noticed I was getting a little bit of time on some of the turns. I noticed then that she was starting to close in but I wasn’t ready to give up and let myself be absorbed.”
Noble added, “So, I gave it one more hard effort. I noticed I was getting a gap so I just went all in for a lap and got a good gap and then left some room for mistakes.”
Last weekend Noble won the U-23 Pan Am Championship. She was already the USA U-23 National Champion. A student at the University of Massachusetts, this weekend is essentially a home race for her.
The Saturday course at Look Park included it’s famous run-up, but also included a very technical “pros only” downhill switchback descent. All of the lead women were able to ride that section, but the majority of the women’s field had to run it.
The Cycle-Smart International was celebrating its 25th birthday on Saturday. The crowds were large and seemed to be enjoying the New England autumn weather and scenery.
The Elite Women will race again on Sunday.
Full Results
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Elite Men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Michael Van den Ham (Red Truck-Garneau p/b Easton Cycling)
