Crystal Anthony, Jeremy Durrin ride the wind to victory in Bay State opener

TERLING, Massachusetts (VN) — Crystal Anthony (Cyclocrossworld) and Jeremy Durrin (JAM Fund-NCC) triumphed over a powerful course and an equally powerful wind on Saturday at day one of the Bay State Cyclocross weekend.

Round five of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series unfolded during a brisk, breezy afternoon, on a tough course designed by Tom Stevens. As if the long pedaling sections, off-camber turns and punchy climbs weren’t enough, there was that wind, which proved a key player throughout the day, blowing over team tents and metal barricades and forcing racers to forge alliances against it.

As the elite women took the field a lead group of 10 formed quickly. Attacks shattered the group, and Anthony was the one who got away. Arley Kemmerer (Charm City Cycling) and Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom Racing) worked together to try to chase Anthony down, pursued in turn by Evelyne Blouin (Ride with Rendall) and Natasha Elliot (The Cyclery).

But Anthony would not be caught — she built her gap into a clear victory, sweeping the Verge Series so far this year with five wins in a row.

Kemmerer and Van Gilder stuck together until near the end, when the Mellow Mushroom rider laid down an attack to settle the final steps on the podium.

The sun was low in the sky as the whistle blew to start the elite men’s race. Durrin and Adam Myerson (Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis) led the pack through the first turn onto the course, forging a 10-man lead group.

The group eventually boiled down to Durrin, Justin Lindine (Redline), Mike Garrigan (Stage-Race-Blacksmith Cycle), Sean Milne (Cyclocrossworld), Derrick St. John (Stevens Racing-The Cyclery) and Dan Timmerman and Christian Favata (Richard Sachs-RGM Watches), with Durrin leading the group through the course.

Lindine saw his bad-luck streak continue — he lost his saddle, pitted and lost the lead group.

Meanwhile, Durrin attacked on the last lap to take his first victory in a UCI race. Garrigan crossed the line second with Milne third.

Sunday’s race will be the sixth and last of the 2012 Verge series.