Lyne Bessette (Cyclocross World/Louis Garneau, R) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
One of the major goals of Lyne Bessette's comeback season in cyclocross was to carry the maple leaf Canadian National Champion's jersey with her over to European World Cups. Chalk up another success for North America's best female ‘cross racer. Sporting her familiar red-and-black Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau kit for the last time this season – she'll get a spanking new maple leaf kit for the rest of the 2005-06 season - Lyne overcame a tentative first lap to win her second Canadian National Cyclocross Championship, Saturday in Ontario.
Faced with one of the best women's fields ever to race a Canadian Nationals, Lyne was unable to shake a tenacious Wendy Simms (Kona) for the opening lap of the rugged course. It was the first time all season Lyne had had company at the end of the first lap of a race, but she quickly buckled down and started flashing the form that had brought her eight consecutive wins going into the weekend.
"I was pretty nervous before the race," admitted Lyne. "Once I started the race I had to think about why Wendy was staying with me. She's really strong this year, but I'd been able to drop her at every race in the States. I had to remind myself to go as hard as I have been all year. I went super hard on the long run-up and got a little gap, once I got that I just stayed on it 100 percent through the next run-up. I went as hard as I could and it worked out."
Lyne added win number 10 to her consecutive win streak on Sunday with a convincing victory in the Aurora ‘Cross, the first non-championship UCI race in Canadian ‘cross history. She also won Canadian ‘cross nationals in 2002.
For complete race report, results and pictures, click here.
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