November 20/06 1:50 am - Bessette Takes US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Title

Posted by Editoress on 11/20/06
 

Bessette Takes US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Title
Courtesy Chris Millman, Cyclocrossworld.com

Venturing into the sodden cyclocross hot bed of the Pacific Northwest, Team Cyclocrossworld stormed the final two races of the 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross and came away with an overall Series title. With second place finishes at Saturday's Rad Cup in Lakewood, Washington and Sunday's Scion Stumptown Cup in Portland, Oregon, Canadian National Champion Lyne Bessette won the Elite Women's Series title for the second year running. Lyne finished second in a sprint to defending U.S. Champion Katie Compton (Spike) on Saturday and former NORBA short track champ Katerina Nash (Luna) on Sunday. Ben Jacques-Maynes grabbed his best result of the year with a fourth place in Lakewood, but struggled with a boat-load of bad luck on Sunday including a heavy crash and a ill-timed flat that sent him to the showers early.

"I had a plan to outsprint Katie, to start the sprint early, but the race was five feet too long for me," said Lyne of her second to Compton on Saturday. "I felt like I had the race under control the whole time and I did what I could to get Katie, but she's very fast. On Sunday Katerina raced a really good race. I got tangled in the course tape on the last lap and that was all she needed to win. I always like to win races but I was really consistent and that's what helped me win the Series."

"I was happy to have a result worth pointing to," said Ben after Saturday's high placing. "It would have been good to be on the podium but I know I did everything I could. As for Sunday, it was rough and I was hoping to follow up on Saturday's result, but I know I have good legs and that's really the big thing as we get closer to Nationals."

Lyne will next fly the flag for Team Cyclocrossworld Saturday, November 25 in Sterling, Massachusetts at the Bay State Cyclocross, round five of the Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series.

Scion Stumptown Cup, USGP #6 (final)
Portland, Oregon, November 19th

Elite Men

1. Tim Johnson (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com
2. Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis
3. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly
4. Todd Wells (USA) GT
5. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona

Women

1 .Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna
2. Lyne Bessette (Can)_ Cyclocrossworld.com
3. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna
4. Wendy Simms (Can) Kona
5. Katie Compton (USA) Spike)