On January 6, 2012, Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club-LadiesFirst Racing) won the gold medal in the Masters Women 30-34 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championship in Madison, WI. Kudos as well to fellow MRC-Ladies First team member Crystal Anthony, who battled her way through the field to win silver.

L>R: Rebecca Blatt (Kenda), Nikki Thiemann (Team CF), Andrea Smith (MRC-Ladies First), Crystal Anthony (MRC-Ladies First), Carolyn Popovic (Team CF)

Smith, currently ranked fifth in the U.S. International CX Elite Women’s standings and captured five 1st place finishes in the 2011 CX Season.

Anthony also has five top podiums to her credit in 2011 and is ranked 14th in the U.S. International CX Elite Women’s standings.

Congratulations to you both from your fellow MRC and Ladies First teammates for finishing your season on top!

Join us at the Lancaster Fairgrounds (Enter through Gate 2) on Sunday, October 16th for our annual down-home, grass roots cyclocross race over rolling terrain, wood chips, clay and/or sand and who-knows-what-else we might decide to throw in.

Cash Payouts:

• Elites, 5 deep: 1st – $100, 2nd – $60, 3rd – $40, 4th – $30, 5th – $20
• Juniors, 3 deep: 1st – $50, 2nd – $30, 3rd – $20

Sign up  now on BikeReg! See our race flyer for details!

Not only was the Midnight Ride of Cyclocross the kickoff event for the New England Holy Week of Cyclocross, it was also the site of the second round of the Zanconato Single Speed Series AND the second EVER New England night cyclocross race. MRC club members turned out en force at the Lancaster Fairgrounds mid-day Wednesday to stake out the course, designed by race director Gary David. A few hours later and many of the 229 entrants were doing their course inspections on the mostly grassy, and slightly damp, terrain.

Maureen Bruno-Roy turned in a great performance to gain 3rd place.

There were a number of international competitors present: From Britain, there was National Champion, Helen Wyman as well as Gabby Day and Ian Fields. Also racing were Canadians Craig Richey (Renner Custon Cyclocross), Mike Garrigan (Lapierre Canada) and Shaun Adamson (Cycle-Smart),  Belgian Tim Van Nuffel (DCM) and Dane Joachim Parbo (Challenge Tires).

Crystal Anthony (Ladies First) flies down the start/finish straight.

The course was laid out with the intent to provide lots of speed (2 long straightaways and high speed, triple barriers, wide and arcing turns) flavored with 3 passes through wood chip bedded barns (treacherous), a long straight uphill grind followed by a bunch of very tight, off camber switch backs and finally back up a set of stairs before returning to the tent-lined start/finish.

With headlight on, Helen Wyman leads Gabby Day through the darkness.

The evening’s slate of races consisted of four heats: a Mens’ 3/4, the Zanconado Single Speed race (men & women), a Women’s Open P1234 and the Elite Men’s P123. Each race began on the hour with the first at 5pm. The lights went on just before the start of the women’s race and gave the Fairgrounds an eerie look.

The Women's Podium - Day, Wyman, Bruno-Roy

This was the first race that featured the new Minuteman Road Club podium, built by members Scott Sweeney and Russ Campbell then expertly painted by Ian Rusk. Members of the Stow Minutemen lent a historically thematic presence for the trophy presentations.

Mike Garrigan had an early lead on eventual winner, Ian Field.

Adam Meyerson navigates the diabolical off-camber switchbacks.

A good number of volunteers stayed after the race and made quick work of course breakdown and clean up, we are very grateful for your effort!

You can read the press release that gives a race report for the two elite fields at the Midnight Ride of Cyclocross website and read race reports by MRC club members in our public forum. The complete results are viewable on BikeReg.com.

The Men's Podium - Garrigan, Field, Townsend

Chris Pare on his way to 2nd Place at 2011 Suckerbrook ©Elaine DeBitetto

11 Minuteman Road Club members made the trip up to Auburn, NH on an uncharacteristically hot and muggy September 25th Sunday. Chris Pare get an early season podium at the 2011 Suckerbrook Cross as a Cat 3  35+ Master by doing battle with his frequent nemesis, Dan Baker of Backoffice Associates. Chris drew on his bike handling skills to keep things close against an opponent who benefitted from the mostly power-section endowed course in Auburn, NH. At the end, Chris netted the 2nd place spot on the podium ahead of 82 other competitors. Read all of the Suckerbrook race reports in our forum.

Abel Tomkinson rips by during the opening race of the Zanconado Single Speed Series at QuadCross

QuadCycle’s post Labor Day race, QuadCross, has become for many in the NECX world, the unofficial start of the cyclocross season. And what better way to start the season than with a podium by a MRC crosser plus two top 10 finishers!

This year, in addition to the usual eager anticipation of this event, there was the added excitement of racing at a new venue (the Maynard Rod & Gun Club) and, for a short time, the possibility the race might not go off at all. But by the time Sunday rolled around, everything was in place for a great day of racing: good weather, a great venue, a well laid-out course and hundreds of CX’ers rearing to go, this included nearly 20 Minuteman Road Club team members.

In the Cat 4 45+ Masters heat, Paul Debitetto finished 4th and former MRC President Todd Savage crossed the line just behind in 5th place.

Paul Debitetto on his way to 4th in the Cat 4 45+ Masters

Later, in the kickoff race for the inaugural running of the Zanconato Single Speed Series, Doug Kennedy not only won the Newbury Comics “beer prime” by being the first across the barriers, he also  held off a strong field by capturing the 3rd place podium spot. Congratulations!

Doug Kennedy on his way to a 3rd place finish in the Zanconato Single Speed Race at QuadCross

• Read more Minuteman Road Club member’s QuadCross 2011 race reports in our forum.
• More of 20# Skull’s (Todd Prekaski) photos.
• More of Russ Campbell’s photos.

Come out and hone your skills!

It’s back! Wednesday night cyclocross training in September. Download the official flyer or read on for the details.

When:

August 31, 2011 @ 5:30 P.M.
September 7, 2011 @ 5:30 P.M.
September 14, 2011 @ 5:30 P.M.
September 21, 2011 @ 5:30 P.M.

Where: SKI WARD, 1000 Main Street Shrewsbury, MA 01545

The course will be challenging, allowing you to hone your skills before the real racing begins! Features in- clude barriers, downhill off- camber 180′s, fast S-turns, and lots of twisties.

From Boston and Points East
Mass Tpk. to route 495 north to route 20 west. Follow route 20 through Northborough center one mile. Just past St. Rose of Lima church bear right at light on to West Main Street. Travel 1.5 miles to Ski Ward on left.

From Points West
Route I-290 east to exit 23 south onto route 140 south. At first light turn left onto Main Street. Travel 1.5 miles to Ski Ward on right.

From Points South
Route 495 north to route 20 west. Follow route 20 through Northborough center one mile. Just past St. Rose of Lima church bear right at light on to West Main Street. Travel 1.5 miles to Ski Ward on left.

How Much: $10 ENTRY
Juniors $3. 5:30pm starts. 100 rider max. Onsite registration only. Must have a valid USAC license though one-day licenses will be available. Held under USA Cycling event permit. All USAC rules apply. Visit minutemanroadclub.com for more details and up to date race info.

RACE FORMAT
No categories, no prizes, just pure cross. All races take place on a 1.5mi marked course of grass & dirt complete with barriers. Race format may change from week to week, eg. a single 45min. race or 5 rider sprint lap with elimination heats or some other mystery format.

Show me da paypah!

The Minuteman Road Club Men’s Cat 4 team, in a display of teamwork that lasted throughout the race, produced outstanding results at the Wayne Elliot Memorial Circuit Race in Merrimac, MA on May 14th, 2011. Early in the 5 lap, 32 mile race over characteristic New England roads (read that as : pot holes, frost heaves and cracks everywhere) Doug Kennedy and Len Engle softened up the field with early breakaways, supported by crafty blocking moves by Chris Pare.

On the final lap, a questionable solo break got away during a neutralization FOR AN AMBULANCE but Doug Kennedy sacrificed himself with a heroic bridging move that bought his team back into the fray. Not long after, Jeremy Cratty initiated a punishing leadout followed by Len Engle, Chris Pare and John Smith. Engle nearly goes down when a rider in front of him veered into this path. He managed to stay upright and finish 6th.

Pare has a heart-stopping moment as he nearly gets involved in Engle’s troubles and finished 4th. John Smith dodged all of this, sprinted for the line in the clear but was nipped at the last moment and got 2nd.

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In the Men’s Cat 5′s, John Raguin showed why he’s moving up to the 4′s in his next race by eluding crashes that occurred around him, bridging huge gaps and accelerating to the the line in a pack sprint to finish 5th.

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Read about the race in the competitors’ own words here in our forum.

Doug Kennedy and Scott Sweeney lead the 4's to Meetinghouse Hll Road - Russ Campbell photo

With near perfect weather and 590 entrants across 9 fields, the 17th Annual Sterling Road Race on May 7th, 2011 was a huge success. Dozens of volunteers comprised of club members, spouses and residents of Sterling gave their time to clean the course, work registration, serve as marhsals along the course and to serve as pace or follow car drivers. We thank you all!

Alec Donohue (Wheelhouse/JAM/NCC) garnered 1st in the 10 lap, 80 mile Men’s Pro 1/2 heat with Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) 2nd and Robbie King (Boston Bicycle School) 3rd. The 48 mile Women’s Pro 1/2/3 saw Stacey Jensen (Kenda p/b Geargrinder) take top honors with Mary Zider (Juvederm/Specialized) 2nd and Amy Miner (NorEast Cycling) coming in 3rd.

11 members of the MRC team also competed with standout performances by PJ McQuade (13th Cat 3 Mens), John Smith (Cat 4 Mens) and John Raguin, who amazingly battled back from a crash to a 2nd place podium in the Mens Cat 5 35+ field.

Complete results available at BikeReg and Road-Results

Links to photos taken of the race:

• Russ Campbell Photography / russcam.com
• Pete Banach / SpokenShutter.com

The Minuteman Road Club also sponsored a free bike safety check for residents of Sterling at the Chocksett school. Cyclists could come and have their bike’s tire inflation checked, brakes adjusted, have their drive train lubricated and have other minor adjustments made.

On a bumpy Myles Standish State Forest Road Race course, April 3rd MRC’s John Smith snagged 4th in the Cat 4 race while team mate Chris Pare survived being pinched off road during his finishing sprint to get 7th. Anna Savage came in 7th in the Juniors 10-14 heat.

The Quabbin Reservoir Classic Road Race on April 23 brought weather reminiscent of last year’s Sterling Classic: hard rain and 40 degree temperatures. The weather didn’t keep MRC’s PJ McQuade  from not only outlasting 21 racers who dropped out, but he finished 13th in the Cat 3 heat. Cat 4 standout John Smith finished 6th in a field of 65 that saw a stunning 2/3′rds of the field drop out. The Cat 5 field proved to be a hardier bunch losing only 26 of 67 starters to attrition. Nevertheless, MRC member Jeremy Cratty garnered 9th and Scott Sweeney 14th.

A windy Blue Hills Classic on May 1st saw Chris Pare turn in a strong sprint finish to get 7th in the Cat 4 field.  In the Cat 5 race, John Raguin put in a very strong showing and finished 2nd, his best result to that point..

John Raguin on the finishing climb at the Blue Hills Classic

The Minuteman Road Club produced laudable results at the 2011 Tour of the Battenkill last Sunday April 10th. Of the 17 team members entered, nearly half garnered top 20 finishes and two placed in the top 10 of their respective fields.

Matt Pierson working his way up Meetinghouse Road - Beth Trinkett photo

In the Cat 4 Grey field, when John Smith flatted about 7 miles in, MRC mates Stefan Wawersik and Rob Follansbee demonstrated how to work as a team to get him back in the race. After Wawersik swapped wheels with Smith, Follansbee heroically bridged Smith all the way back into the race. Very pro.

Later on, Doug Kennedy made his contribution by leading Smith out at the finish resulting in an 11th place finish for Smith and Kennedy in 12th.

The men’s Cat 5 35+ Pink field found three members in the lead group through the halfway point: Jeremy Cratty, Scott Sweeney and Russ Campbell. The moderately warm but very dry day and the unrelenting climbs took their toll on all of the racers as that pack deteriorated into smaller and smaller, more spread out groups. By the end, Cratty fought to a 6th place finish, Sweeney gaining 8th and Campbell in 12th.

Other top 20 finishers were Gary Sclar in the Cat 5 35+ Yellow field outlasting a field that saw 1/3 of the entrants DNF to attain 16th postion and Lynn Thornton, who placed 15th in the Women’s Ca4 35+ field.

Read the exciting race reports and see photos from the race in the MRC forum.