April 13/07 6:23 am - Bessette Confirms for Paris to Ancaster

Posted by Editoress on 04/13/07
 

Paris to Ancaster 2007
Courtesy Organizer

Canada's biggest bicycle race gets stronger too! Lyne Bessette, '05 and '06 Winner Mike Simonsen confirmed.

The 2007 Paris to Ancaster is already on track to have the largest field in its 14 year history with 1800 riders expected. It is also going to feature the strongest field of elite riders challenging themselves, their equipment and each other on the 60 km route of rail trails, dirt roads, forest paths and farm lanes.

Recently confirmed entries include Canadian Olympian, Commonwealth Games Gold and Bronze medalist Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com). Bessette, from Knowlton, PQ is an eight time Canadian national champion in disciplines as diverse as the road race, the individual time trial and cyclocross. This will be her first Paris to Ancaster appearance, and as the reigning National Cyclocross champion she will be a formidable favorite alongside defending P2A champion Tara Ross. Ross (Advil Chapstick racing team) of Hamilton will have local knowledge and event experience on her side. The 2007 Canadian National team member will put a seasons worth of World Cup Cyclocross experience to good advantage as she defends her 2006 P2A title.

Other riders already confirmed include 2006 National Cyclocross team members Mike Garrigan (HBCC) and Kyle Douglas (3Rox racing). Garrigan was 2nd in the 2006 P2A and will be making his 2007 season debut at the race this year. The past few months have been spent coaching a development team of riders from the Barrie area, many of whom will be racing P2A as well, providing added incentive for Garrigan to make the jump to the top step of the podium. Kyle Douglas, from Whitby On, is the reigning Canadian U23 cyclocross champion.

The 2005 and 2006 men's champion Mike Simonsen (Bells Beer Cycling Team) from Detroit has confirmed his intention to make it an unprecedented three in a row. Simonsen closed out the 2006 season in November with a win in North America's largest race, the Iceman Cometh in Michigan and will be coming to Paris directly after the Sea Otter Classic in California.

Some of his toughest opposition will come from the 2004 P2A winner, Peter Morse of Toronto(Jet Fuel Coffee). Morse has demonstrated some good early season fitness with a convincing win at the Uxbridge Icebreaker in March and a strong 2nd place finish in the Good Friday road race in Hamilton. He will be bringing a strong team of 4 to support his bid to win his second P2A. The Jet Fuel Coffee squad will include Josh Hall, a perennial top 5 finisher in P2A and 2nd overall in 2005. Hall is also durable all-round rider with provincial championships in Road racing, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross, as well as Canadian National team experience. Two time Ontario Road Race Champion,Joe Guiliano, U23 Ontario Cyclocross Champion Kevin Hazzard and U23 road and tt specialist Bryson Bowers will round out the team.

Canada's Number one ranked pro road team will be represented by Brandon Crichton of Burlington. The Symmetrics Cycling team pro and 2003 National Criterium Champion also represented Canada at the 2003 World Championships in Hamilton and won the under 23 title at the Tour de Beauce.

1800 riders are expected to compete in the 60km and 35km races. It is a unique opportunity for average riders to compete on the same course at the same time as some of North Americas best. Complete race information and entry details are available at www.parisancaster.com