Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross, UCI C2
Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series Rounds 5 and 6

These races were about scoring some results. Not that every race isn't an opportunity to score some results, but now I'm halfway through my 3rd season of racing cross and can't really use the "learning" excuse anymore. The two races in Northampton were a couple of beautiful late fall days in Western Mass, and served as terrific opportunities to try to be at the front of the race, with the US cyclocross superstars split between here and Boulder.

The first day I was a little disappointed to find myself just off the front row for the start, edged out by the Grand Master of Cyclocross himself by just one point (for those that don't recognize him by that surname, I mean Myerson). Doesn't really matter, as Timmerman has demonstrated all year thus far with his back row starts and top notch finishes.

Once the race was underway, I found myself in between the lead group of four and a large group of chasers by the end of the 2nd lap. Rather than sitting up to join the chasers, I decided to go it alone and did so for almost the entire day to hold them off. Unfortunately, one was able to bridge up to me on the last lap and drop me in a two-up sprint. So 6th place, not bad.

The 2nd day brought more of the same as I dangled agonizingly close to the lead group of 4 for nearly 3 laps without closing it. By the midway point I came to terms with racing the next group of 3 for 5th spot. With 2 to go Frattini hit the gas to drop the other two and we were set for another two-up sprint for 5th for the second day in a row...which I lost for the second day in a row.

Two 6th place finishes add up to a solid weekend of racing for me, and moved me into 6th place in the overall standings, coincidently enough. Toby continued his run at the u23 title with a 2nd place finish at Saturday's race. That result, coupled with 4 previous rounds of terrific results, have him sitting solidly in 3rd place for the u23 overall.

You can see the full race reports on cyclingnews.com here and here