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Fun in the sun: Serious racing in Bermuda

By Ian Dille, VeloNews correspondent
Published: Sep. 25, 2005

At the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix racers come with two priorities: racing hard and having a bit of fun in the process. This is, after all, Bermuda.

The four-day stage race is the final stop of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series. The top ten teams after the International Tour de Toona are provided free airfare and accommodations to come race on the remote tropical island. The relatively short stages allow plenty of time for the competitors to experience the island, but the demanding courses provide exciting racing action.

In Thursday’s first stage, a criterium through the streets of downtown Hamilton, Karen Brems (Webcor) won a field sprint over Lynne Bessette. “I was going for the race win, and we had Amber Rais going for the primes,” said Brems of her team’s strategy. With thousands of dollars in primes up for grabs during the twilight race, racers focused on winning the race while making as much money as possible.

The following evening, Lynne Bessette (RMS/Fit Tech) launched up a 1km hill time trial in her big ring to move into the overall lead. The course climbed at an average grade of 7 percent to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, providing the perfect beacon for the racers lung busting effort. Bessette seemed excited about rallying her team of local Bermudian racers to defend her lead in Saturday’s 80km road race. “We’re going to have fun and try to win it,” she said.

Strong swirling winds, brought by tropical storm Philippe, kept the women’s field together during most of the 80km road race. In the final sprint Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) grabbed the win as Karen Brems maintained her overall lead. Franges, winner of last year’s road race and overall title, said she would celebrate her victory by, “going to the beach. What else do you do in Bermuda?”

Clear skies and warm weather finally prevailed in Sunday’s Dockyard criterium. In the hunt for time bonus sprints, Sarah Tillotson (Quark) found herself off the front with less than 10-laps to go. Tillotson’s solo victory at a margin of twelve seconds moved her into third overall.

Although Webcor already had the Women’s Prestige Series team title wrapped up before they came to Bermuda, Brem’s victory proved them deserving winners. Brems normally co-manages the team, but was willing to come out of her semi-retired state to fill the roster for Bermuda.

“I came out of semi-retirement last year too. I like Bermuda.” Brems said, “It’s a shame that the women who really earned the trip here were at world’s. But it’s a good way to give back to the rest of the team.” Men
While not on the NRC calendar, the men’s Bermuda Grand Prix field was regarded as one of the deepest in the races history. Ivan Stevic (Aerospace), Tim Johnson (Jittery Joes), and David Clinger (Helen’s RPM) were all in Bermuda to race hard and soak in the rays.

In Thursday’s Front Street Criterium a last lap attack on the short but steep Burnaby Hill gave David Richter (Subway) the victory. During the 45-minute race Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) and Eric Murphy (Aerospace Engineering) both spent multiple laps off the front of the field. But eventually, after they collected thousands of dollars in primes, the field swallowed them up.

David Richter retained his overall lead heading into the road race by staying within a second of race winner Eric Murphy in Friday’s hill climb. But soaking rain that flooded the road during the men’s 108km road race left his Subway team chasing an eight-rider break. That group was eventually shed to three riders, Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada), Ivan Stevic (Aerospace Engineering), and Dean Downing (Spence). Downing’s attack 5k from the finish gave him the win over Zwizanski and Stevic, with Stevic taking the overall lead.

On the final day of racing a Bermudian rider took glory. Gerri Mewett (Team BBA) broke clear with Karl Bordine (Helen’s RPM) a little over half way through the 1-hour race, and then won the two up sprint at the line.

Stevic’s chase late in the race closed the gap on the two riders enough to ensure him the overall title in Bermuda.

Results
Women Overall
1. Karen Brems (Webcor)
2. Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)
3. Sarah Tillotson (Quark)
4. Grace Fleury (Quark)
5. Lynne Bessette (RMS/FitTech)Stage 1 winner - Karen Brems (Webcor)
Stage 2 winner - Lynne Bessette (RMS/FitTech)
Stage 3 winner - Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)
Stage 4 winner - Sarah Tillotson (Quark)Men Overall
1. Ivan Stevic (Aerospace Engineering)
2. Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada)
3. Dean Downing (Spence)Stage 1 winner - David Richter (Subway)
Stage 2 winner -Eric Murphy (Aerospace Engineering)
Stage 3 winner - Dean Downing (Spence)
Stage 4 winner - Geri Mewett (Team BBA)