Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) rode to convincing wins on Saturday during day one of the Downeast Cyclocross at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine.

Bessette has been dominating this season, though she is coming off a stinging loss in last week's race in Gloucester, Massachusetts. So it was no surprise that she went off from the gun at the start with Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks) and Mackenzie Dickey.

After the first course through the woods, it was Bessette in front with only Melissa Thomas (Maxxis) and Katerina Nash (Luna) on her tail. Bessette kept pouring on the pressure, and that plus the hilly terrain took its toll on the rest of the field, allowing the reigning Canadian national champion to cruise in for the win.

Johnson through the mud

Photo: Paul Weiss Photo/Video

Nash held on for second with Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrications) third after overtaking a tiring Thomas with two laps to go. Christine Vardaros (Lotto) rounded out the top five.

In the men’s race, Johnson started with plenty of company, as a lead group of eight riders formed after the woods on the first lap. Lap two brought the go-getters to the front, and under-23 rider Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar) led a charge that only Johnson responded to.

The on-form Johnson eventually dropped Anthony as he developed mechanical problems, and everyone was left in the dust as the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com rider rolled away to a comfortable win.

The best of the rest were left to fend for themselves, and Anthony's mechanical woes opened the door for veteran Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) to grab the second spot on the podium. Matt White (Fiordifrutta) rebounded from a disappointing performance last weekend to take third.

Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) crossed fourth, while Anthony held on for fifth, good enough to win the under-23 category ahead of Jamey Driscoll (Fiordifrutta) and Morgan Schmitt (Hagens-Berman LLP). Racing continues Sunday at Pinelands.