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Bessette, Johnson score `cross wins in Canada

By Rob Jones, Special to VeloNews.com
Published: Nov. 6, 2005
Bessette remains the undisputed Queen of `Cross in North America
Bessette remains the undisputed Queen of `Cross in North America
Photo: Robert Jones

A day after its national cyclo-cross championships, Canada’s first-ever UCI sanctioned C2 cyclo-cross event took place in Aurora, Ontario, just south of the Saturday’s championship site.

While the majority of the field consisted of riders who had ridden the day before, there were a number of Americans, including one significant addition to the men's field: Lyne Bessette's husband and teammate Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com - Louis Garneau). The pair showed why they are considered among the top riders on the continent this season by riding away from their respective fields to record wins.

The Aurora course did not feature the wilderness terrain of the nationals the day before at Hardwood Hills, but the organizers made up for it with a circuit that twisted and looped around a recreational facility, creating what men's champion Peter Wedge (Kona Les Gets) said should have been the championship circuit.

Unlike the previous day, there were no torrential downpours, however, rain from the night before made grassy sections treacherous and wind gusts of up to 80kph had riders groveling into cold and brutal headwinds.

Unstoppable
Bessette took control on the first lap of the women's race, but a slide out at the bottom of one descent spun her around 180 degrees and allowed Saturday’s silver medalist Wendy Simms (Kona Les Gets) to catch up. Bessette again opened a gap, but was much more cautious in doing so.

"Wendy is a strong technical rider, so I knew she would do well on this course,” Bessette said. “I could open up on the power sections, but she would gain some time back. I've been doing some technical races in the East, so I'm getting better, and I was able to hold my own."

But Simms was having problems of her own that negated some of those technical skills.

"I went down all over the shop,” Simms said. “I had too much tire pressure. After I changed my bike it got better. But I'd make time up then I'd fall, then make time up ... so it was frustrating."

Bessette would eventually win by 27 seconds, with Tara Ross (Victory Brewing) taking third and Stacey Spencer (Cycle Smart) in fourth.

Bessette remains undefeated this season, earning ten wins in ten starts.

Johnson took off early and stayed off the front
Johnson took off early and stayed off the front
Photo: Robert Jones

Mr. Bessette scores, too!
Johnson, considered a favorite before the start, left no doubt in anyone's mind that he deserved the designation after a blazing fast 6:50 opening lap. Greg Reain (Steven's Racing), silver medalist a day earlier was the only rider to even attempt to challenge Johnson, and he was 20 seconds down by lap No. 2, eventually finishing 2:10 back.

"I know Peter well, but not Greg," explained Johnson, "so I wanted to give it a really good push at the beginning and see how he would go after yesterday. I was actually hoping for rain - I had set up the bike expecting a downpour - so the pressure in my tires was a little on the low side."

Reain, while not necessarily thrilled with two second-place finishes in two days, was still happy with his weekend.

"It wasn't too bad,” he said. “I'm definitely racing at a higher level than last year."

Behind the front two, a constant shuffling of positions kept things open for the first five of the day’s nine laps. Nathan Chown (Italpasta) was the first to take up the pursuit of the two leaders. He was eventually joined by several riders, including Wedge, who worked his way up after a poor start. Resplendent in his new national champion’s jersey, Wedge quickly took control of the chase group.

Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics) tried a flyer, but Wedge bridged up, followed by Espoir national champion Christian Meier (Symmetrics) and Matt Hewitt. Chown, Pinfold and Hewitt eventually faded, leaving Canada’s Elite and Espoir champions to battle it out for third. With two laps to go, Wedge finally opened a small gap in the technical sections, which he was able to hold to the line.

"Christian and I were really beating each other up all day," said Wedge. "We were yo-yoing - I would take time in the technical bits and the sand, and then he would slowly come back up to me. I was just able to hold on to the end."

Race NotesIt appears that Meier may be slapped with a $1200 fine. UCI rules require that a national champion may not have sponsors on their national jersey for the first 24 hours after the jersey is awarded. Meier, who also is the Espoir road time trial champion, used his Symmetrics logo-ed national champion's jersey in the race. It cost him – or his sponsor – a bit of cash.Women
1. Lyne Bessette (Can), Cyclocrossworld.com - Louis Garneau, 41:39:00
2. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona Les Gets (KLG) 0:27
3. Tara Ross (Can), Victory Brewing 3:04
4. Stacey Spencer (Can), 4:16
5. Jennifer Stephenson (Can), Team Biovail 5:39
6. Amanda Shaw (Can), Team Biovail 7:09
7. Sarah Robbins (Can), Team SK:SaskatoonC`ldia 7:36
8. Anne Schwartz (USA), 8:37
9. Jennifer Magur (USA), Team Biovail 9:21
10. Maogosha Pyjor (Can), Wheels of Bloor - 1 Lap
11. Jaymie McGowan (Can), McMaster CC - 1 Lap
12. Cynthia Phelan (Can), Velocity Racing - 2 Laps

Elite/Espoir Men
1. Tim Johnson (USA), Cyclocrossworld.com - Louis Garneau, 1:04:46
2. Greg Reain (Can), Stevens RT:Cycle Logik 2:10
3. Peter Wedge (Can), Kona Les Gets (KLG), 2:58
4. Christian Meier (Can), Symmetrics Cycling - B.C. 3:11
5. Mathew Hewitt (Can), Oak Bay Bicycles 5:03
6. Andrew Watson (Can), GearsRacing.com 5:11
7. Martin Lazarski (Can), RockyMountain BusinessObjects 5:23
8. Andrew Pinfold (Can), Symmetrics Cycling - B.C. 5:47
9. Aaron Fillion (Can), Ottawa Bicycle Club 5:48
10. Peter Morse (Can), Chain Reaction 6:21
11. Nick Friesen (Can), Team Alberta:Bike Shop-AB 6:22
12. Ryan Belliveau (Can), Atlantic Cycling Center NB 6:34
13. Per Strom (Can), Bicisport CC - Alberta 6:48
14. Jonathan Card (USA), Cane Creek - MI USA 7:43
15. David Gagnon (Can), Sportif Bromont - QuÈbec 7:51
16. Tristan Galbraith (Can), Kona Les Gets (KLG), 8:10
17. David Coughlin (Can), 9:33
18. Jer Walker (USA), Cane Creek - MI USA - 1 Lap
19. Rob Britton (Can), Team Saskatchewan - 1 Lap
20. Travis Brown (Can), The Cyclery - 2 Laps
21. Shawn Bunnin (Can), Team Saskatchewan - 2 Laps
22. Shaun Adamson (Can), Team Alberta:United Cycle - 2 Laps
23. Warren Tilbrook (Can), St. Catharines CC - 2 Laps
24. Shawn Clarke (Can), The Cyclery - 2 Laps
25. Timothy Carleton (Can), Sports Swap Racing - 2 Laps
26. Brooke Boocock (Can), Cycle Logik Racing - 2 Laps
27. John Roden (USA), Shickluna - NY - 1 Lap
28. Mike Sarnecki (Can), Team Alberta:Pedalhead - AB - 1 Lap
29. Keith Moore (Can), Waterloo CC/The Flying Dogs - 2 Laps
30. John Fee (Can), Velocity Racing - 2 Laps
31. Michael Dennis (Can), Midweek CC - 2 Laps
32. Mark Stables (Can), - 2 Laps
33. Alexander Fulton (Can), Ottawa Bicycle Club - 2 Laps
34. John van Arragon (Can), The Hub Bicycle Club - 5 LapsDSQ Nathan Chown (Can), Italpasta - Transport BelmireDNF Ryan Hopping (Can), Team Alberta
DNF Benoit Simard (Can), Specialized Bikes - USA
DNF Drew MacKenzie (Can), Sugio Factory T:Giant
DNF Dave Brown (Can), BikeSports-Pfaff Racing Team
DNF John Lamey (Can),
DNF Shawn Marshall (Can),
DNF Jarrod Forrest (Can), Cycle Cambridge.com-KICX 99.5
DNF Phil Cortes (Can), UC Sable - New Brunswick
DNF Osmond Bakker (Can), Cycle Logik Racing
DNF Kyle Rothwell (Can), Cavern Cycles - Sneaky Dees
DNF Scott Kelly (Can), McMaster CC:Freewheel Cycle
DNF Nicholas Vipond (Can), Team Hardwood

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