Preview: 2023 Verge Northampton Cyclocross Presented By Cycle-Smart
Start lists and a few words about the race holding down the spiritual national cyclocross calendar this weekend
If you look at the UCI calendar, this weekend is the only weekend during the three-month domestic cyclocross season without a North American UCI race. However, there is a race that has been a mainstay on the New England and U.S. calendar since its inception over three decades ago.
The Verge Northampton Cyclocross presented by Cycle-Smart takes place in western Massachusetts this weekend. The race first became a UCI race in 2000, so the decision to not be a UCI race this season was not made lightly.
Northampton is not a UCI race due to the UCI’s ruling issued this summer banning transgender women from racing in the Elite Women’s category. We spoke with race director Adam Myerson about that decision earlier this season.
When I spoke with Myerson, I indicated it only felt right to include Noho on the Bulletin’s national calendar, even if the race did not hold UCI status. The race has been the backbone of the New England cyclocross series, which was in turn the backbone of American cyclocross for literal decades.
It was a huge bummer when the GP Gloucester was forced to close up shop, and it was an even bigger bummer when Myerson was forced to put the New England Cyclocross Series on hold prior to the 2022 domestic season. I guess with the sport facing more and more headwinds, it was always nice to know the New England series was a constant providing energy to the sport in this country.
But … Northampton is still going and that rules.
This weekend marks the 32nd edition of Noho. 32 years! The first one was in 1991.
The elder George Bush was still president. When a Man Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton was at the top of the pop charts. The Dow Jones reached 3,000 for the first time ever.
And why not, here’s a video of Phil Ligget announcing the 1991 Amateur Cyclocross World Championships held at Gieten.
The race’s deep New England ties means its hosted a who’s who of winners in North American cyclocross.
Some Elite Women’s winners you may have heard of include Ellen Noble, Emma White, Maghalie Rochette, Katerina Nash, and Lyne Basette.
Elite Men’s winners include a crazy list of national champions this millennium, including Eric Brunner, Curtis White, Stephen Hyde, Raphael Gagne, Michael van den Ham, Jeremy Powers, Mark McCormack, Marc Gullickson, and Tim Johnson.
A discussion of past winners would not be complete without acknowledging that last season’s Elite Women’s Day 1 winner was Austin Killips. It is not hard to draw a nexus between her win at Noho to the UCI’s decision the following summer, which I am guessing is something that is not lost on Myerson and his team.
The Noho race takes place at Look Park, which is located along the east bank of the Mill River. The course is part fast and open, part steep and technical in the woods, and in the past it has lent itself to plenty of close finishes thanks to that setup.
As an aside, Northampton is indeed north of Easthampton but it’s also … east of Easthampton? Seems like one of those Iceland/Greenland situations. I have no idea what compelled me to comment on this.
This year’s edition of Noho features a payout structure that is similar to, if not a bit more generous than, the minimum requirements dictated by the UCI for C2 races. Elite race winners will be taking home $350, and payouts go 20 deep for both fields.
Start lists for the races are below, sorted by CrossResults points.
Of note in the Elite Women’s field are a special appearance by Ellen Noble racing for “?” (Rip ResultsBoy’s mentions if Noble does well and proves his ranking system wrong)
Jenna Lingwood, who is also a trans athlete who was affected by the UCI’s ruling, heads up the start list as the presumptive favorite. Lingwood finished 6th and 9th at Noho last season and has been racing in the Cyclocross Crusade in Oregon for much of this season.
On the fun side for the Elite Men is Robin Carpenter, whom we last wrote about whilst racing crits during the Intelligentsia Cup in July. Of national relevance is Lane Maher, who is back racing ‘cross after suffering an injury that derailed his return to the discipline this season.
I guess they’ll say schedule , UCI points etc but it is disappointing to me that more elite men and women aren’t at the event to a. Support Adam and his event which has been such a cx mainstay and b. Show support for the stand he’s taken and the athletes affected. Seems everyone wants to talk about diversity and access to and in cycling but very few people are prepared to do very much beyond the minimum. ( Unless you share the UCIs ( and IOCs ) right wing transphobic anti science anti human rights approach to trans athletes)