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Van Gilder takes solo victory

Teammates Anthony, D'Ambruoso round out top three

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Crystal Anthony and the women's elite field navigating a very technical descent.

Crystal Anthony and the women's elite field navigating a very technical descent. (Image credit: Julianne Oberle)
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The challenging run-up at the Nor'Easter 'Cross.

The challenging run-up at the Nor'Easter 'Cross. (Image credit: Julianne Oberle)
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Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing)

Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing)

Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Lenore Pipes (The Wistar Institute)

Lenore Pipes (The Wistar Institute) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) prepares to re-mount after tackling the stairs.

Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) prepares to re-mount after tackling the stairs. (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing)

Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing)

Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal)

Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) alone in the lead.

Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) alone in the lead. (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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(Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Rebecca Wellons (Pedro's)

Rebecca Wellons (Pedro's) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel Factory Team p/b Sterke Meiden)

Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel Factory Team p/b Sterke Meiden) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal)

Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing)

Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Rebecca Blatt (Central Wheel)

Rebecca Blatt (Central Wheel) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) en route to victory.

Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) en route to victory. (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Elite women's podium (l-r): Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing), 2nd; Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes), 1st; Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing), 3rd

Elite women's podium (l-r): Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing), 2nd; Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes), 1st; Ann D'Ambruoso (LadiesFirst Racing), 3rd (Image credit: Janice Checchio)
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Elite women's winner Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes)

Elite women's winner Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes) (Image credit: Janice Checchio)

Laura Van Gilder (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) rode away from the field at the Nor'Easter ‘Cross presented by Smartwool and Cycle-Smart on Saturday afternoon to earn a solo victory. 

The strong Elite women's line-up featured a trio of LadiesFirst racers, this weekend including Crystal Anthony, Ann D'Ambruoso and Christina Tamilio, New England cyclo-cross staple Rebecca Wellons (Pedro's), former New Zealand national champion Linnea Koons (Embrocation Cycling Journal), Rebecca Blatt (Silver Bull/Central Wheel), as well as Laura Van Gilder, hoping to continue her great start to the season

"I knew I wanted to be on the front," said Van Gilder following the race. "I needed to be able to ride my own lines. These women in New England are just getting stronger and stronger."

With this in mind, Van Gilder took the lead from the gun, leading D'Ambruoso and Anthony through the first lap. Always taking advantage of the power sections, Van Gilder was able to create space behind her and was able to cruise in to victory.

As was the case for many racers this weekend, the high-profile regional races last weekend combined with travel to and from CrossVegas, left a lot of question marks in Van Gilder's mind, but once she was on course, the questions disappeared. The LadiesFirst upstart, Crystal Anthony, continued her team's podium streak by pulling in second behind Van Gilder. Not to be outdone, once again, Ann D'Ambruoso finished third, further proving that the LadiesFirst Racing team is not to be underestimated. Rebecca Blatt outdid Christina Tamilio on the line, taking a very solid fourth place in a strong field.

The first-year UCI race at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire took full advantage of the terrain by mixing two challenging climbs, several off-camber descents, two run-ups and two long paved straightaways linking the sides of the course. The unique course wrapped around and through the Nor'Easter Festival powered by EMS, going in front of the main concert stage and around the rock climbing competition. For the race organizers, this was an opportunity to show a largely unfamiliar audience what cyclo-cross is all about.

Full Results
1Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes0:42:00
2Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:00:35
3Ann D'Ambruoso (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:01:21
4Rebecca Blatt (USA) Central Wheel0:01:47
5Christina Tamilio (USA) LadiesFirst Racing0:01:48
6Linnea Koons (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal0:02:01
7Frances Morrison (USA) Wheelhouse -NCC0:02:31
8Rebecca Wellons (USA) Pedro's0:03:26
9Elle Anderson (USA) Strava.com0:03:49
10Lenore Pipes (USA) The Wistar Institute0:04:25
11Marilyn Ruseckas (USA) Seven Cycles/NoTubes/FitWerx0:04:28
12Jennifer Maxwell (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team p/b Sterke Meiden0:05:03
13Arielle Filiberti (USA) Specialized D4 Women p/b Bicycle Haus0:05:18
14Elizabeth White (USA) Blue Steel Cyclery-1lap

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