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Cyclocross news & racing round-up for October 29, 2005Edited by Steve Medcroft Welcome to our regular round-up of what's happening in cyclocross. Feel free to send feedback, news and gossip to mtb@cyclingnews.com Starting out slowly: An interview with Lyne Bessette
It usually takes a while for the season's dominant cross rider to emerge, but in the North American women's ranks Lyne Besssette already looks unstoppable. Steve Medcroft finds out where the flying Canadian is aiming this season. The beginning of the U.S. Cyclocross season is always interesting. Within the first few major races, dominant riders usually develop. Last year, Geoff Kabush, Ryan Trebon, Todd Wells and Mark McCormack policed the front of the men's USGP series while Ann Knapp, Mary McConneloug and Gina Hall led the women's scene. And on any given day, any one of five top riders could win the race. So far in 2005, the exact opposite has been happening. In fact, one woman has ridden away with every UCI and USGP race she entered. That rider is 2004 Canadian Road National Champion Lyne Bessette. Read the entire Lyne Bessette interview here. Johnson finding his feet once againBy Anthony Tan
The saying 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' appears to hold true for Tim Johnson, who, after two years away from the cyclo-cross scene, has begun riding as if he never left. After a solid end to the road season with Jittery Joe's-Kalahari, which has seen him land a two-year contract with Health Net/Maxxis commencing in 2006, consistently finishing at the top of the leaderboard in the early season 'cross races certainly wasn't expected - but that's exactly what he's been doing. "I guess the only specific 'cross training I did was to get out on the 'cross bike as much as possible in the woods, or doing 'cross practice with all the 'cross guys in town," said Johnson to Cyclingnews, driving home from last weekend's double-header that forms part of the Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross series, where he finished in second place in Saturday's Wooden Wheels Cyclocross and fourth on Sunday at the Wissahickon Cross in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "But this whole fall's been kinda wacky; getting ready for San Francisco [Grand Prix], finalising my contract next year with Health Net, trying to figure out our bikes, clothing and our sponsorship for [wife] Lyne [Bessette] and I with Cyclocrossworld-Louis Garneau. So it wasn't so much a specific plan, but I wanted to take my break and be able to get on my 'cross bike without going into the next road season cooked - but it kind of worked out in an odd, wacky way." Odd and wacky is one way to describe the past few years for this 28 year-old from Middleton, Massachusetts. This time two years ago, Johnson had taken his biggest ever career win, triumphing at the 2003 Herald Sun Tour held in Victoria, Australia. Two months later, he signed a contract with Saunier Duval-Prodir, embarking on a troubled journey across the Atlantic that saw him back in the States after less than satisfying season and question his being in the sport. The move to Jittery Joe's, an American Continental team comprised of just 11 riders, seemed awfully strange for a rider that less than 12 months ago appeared to have the world at his feet. However says Johnson, a mild-mannered, well-spoken and intelligent individual, it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing himself the time to rediscover his passion for cycling. "It's hard for me to describe the situation I was in and the reasons behind the decision that I did [make]. It was actually a lot harder than most people think," said Johnson about his decision to leave his current road team at the end of the season. "The team was really cool to me and Micah [Rice] really took care of me. But here came this really good opportunity for two years with the best team in the States... it's really hard to pass that up. "The Health Net thing is awesome. They called me and they wanted a guy like me who's been around the block and has some experience and is not afraid to show it. You know, a lot of the enjoyment I had at Saturn in 2003 was working for the other guys; it was as hard as hell, but working for [Chris] Horner and Nathan [O'Neill] and [Tom] Danielson was huge, because it showed me what I could do and helped me grow as a rider." Johnson describes the US market 'post-Lance' as "a really good time to be a bike racer in America", with good salaries on offer and new stage races such as the Tour of California scheduled for February next year. And in the vein of another successful US cycling team, Navigators Insurance, Health Net are also planning a short trip to Europe in 2006, along with the possibility of doing races such as the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, Malaysia's Tour de Langkawi, and the Herald Sun Tour. "So even though we lost a few guys, it's still in the game plan to grow and expand into Europe. But they're going to do it the right way; it will just be a few weeks and it's not going to be a four-month slog where the riders we wishing they were at home," Johnson said, perhaps alluding to his time spent in Europe with Saunier Duval. "A fresh, US guy in good form is really, really strong in Europe. I mean, we signed Kirk O'Bee and he's had a lot of good results when he's been to Europe." Look out for the full interview with Tim Johnson next week on Cyclingnews. Global Cyclocross racing round-up
No more beer tents in cyclo-crossThe UCI has banned cyclo-cross races from passing through beer tents, one of the hallowed traditions in many Belgian events. The decision was made on the grounds that it was unsafe, on the basis of remarks made by Richard Groenendaal last year about the difference in inside/outside temperatures and the danger of being hit by beer glasses. However, Groenendaal said that his comments were not intended to be taken that way. Bessette, McCormack lead Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross SeriesAs the wet days of another New England October drip away, Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) and Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) lead the series standings in 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series presented by Cycle-Smart in the Elite Women’s and Men’s races, respectively. Bessette and McCormack won their respective races in the flooded mud bogs of the 2005 Downeast Cyclo-Cross in New Gloucester, Maine, October 15th and will hit the heart of the Verge NECCS races with a good head of steam. Bessette has been the uncontested queen of North American cyclo-cross thus far in 2005, marking her return to the ‘cross circuit with a string of impressive wins. For his part, four-time defending Verge NECCS champion McCormack has held his fine form from the road season into the fall. However, McCormack figures to face a serious challenge through the remaining five Verge NECCS races from Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), whose rapid grab at UCI points will see the 2001 National Champion lining up on the front of the start grid for the rest of the season. Defending Under-23 series and national champion, Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar), continues to go from strength to strength. His regular position in the top-five in the Elite Men’s race could cement him another series title. Last year’s Masters 35+ series champ, Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle), continues his run on the jersey, leading after New Gloucester. But Bold could face a real challenge from first-year masters racer Rob Hult (Fior di Frutta). New York’s Christopher Long (Independent Fabrication) leads the 45+ category after the first race. In what promises to be a season-long battle, Jerome Townsend (Bicycle Alley) leads in the Junior series standings. Canadian Pascal Bussibres (Abbrsuz LA GoeLiche) heads up the B race series. Pip Bannister (Putney-West Hill) leads the Masters 55+ while Jarred Reutar (44Velo) is tops in the Cub Junior category. The 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series continues November 12-13 in Farmington, Conn. and Northampton, Mass. The 2005 Verge NECCS is sponsored by Verge Sport, makers of quality cycling apparel, and specializing in custom clothing orders; Cycle-Smart: Solutions for Cycling, personalized coaching for all cycling disciplines: Greyhound Juice, warming salves and skin care products for all athletes; BikeReg.com, the solution for all of your online registration needs for cycling events; and Litmus Designs, integrating web technology and graphic design solutions for your business needs. For complete series standings from the 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, presented by Cycle-Smart please go to www.necyclocross.com 2005 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series Series Points Standings after Round 1 Elite Men 1 Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) 60 pts 2 Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) 50 3 Matt Kraus (Alan Factory Team) 45 4 Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar) 40 5 Tyler Johnson (Easton/Kona CCA) 35 6 Peter Wedge (Kona-Les Gets) 30 7 Michael Cody (FiordiFrutta) 28 8 Andrew Freye (Bikeman.com-Oakley) 26 9 Benoit Simard (Specialized Canada) 24 10 Ryan O'Conner (1K2Go/S+W Sports) 22 Elite Women 1 Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) 50 pts 2 Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) 40 3 Anna Milkowski (Gearworks-Spinarts Cycling Team) 32 4 Tara Ross (Victory Brewing) 25 5 Pauline Frascone (Independent Fabrication) 20 6 Amy Wallace (Verizon Wireless Wheelworks) 18 7 Mackenzie Dickey (Team Bicycle Alley) 16 8 Kani Trenblay (Gearworks/Spinarts) 14 9 Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spin Arts) 12 10 Catherine Dudley 10 U.S. Gran Prix in GloucesterComing into the Gloucester weekend Elite Men's and Women's US Gran Prix leaders Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) carry some great form and a good bit of momentum. Bessette has yet to finish off the top step of the podium this year: her win streak stands at six coming into Gloucester. Trebon won the UCI Cat1 Wooden Wheels Cyclocross in Granogue, Penn. Last weekend and finished second the following day in Philadelphia. The return of local hero, and two-time Gloucester winner, Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau) to the seaside course remains one of the weekend's highlights for New England 'cross fans. Johnson will be joined in the Elite Men's race by local contenders Mark McCormack and Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar), Adam Craig (Giant), and out-of-towners Barry Wicks (Kona), Ben Jacques-Maynes (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada), and Belgium's Sten Raeymakers. Bessette will face the blue-and-pink Velo Bella machine led by Barbara Howe along with Christine Vardaros, Melodie Metzger, and Sarah Kerlin. Rising star Georgia Gould (Kona) and local Massachusetts talent Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication) will also figure prominently in the Elite Women's mix. "We're really excited to once again host the 3rd and 4th stops of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross", said Paul Boudreau, promoter of the Gloucester events. "Hurricane Wilma may be bashing the coastline today, but we know the perfect storm will be brewing this Halloween weekend when the racers come to town and take to the start line on our newly designed courses." A special post-race Michelob ULTRA Party at the Rhumbline in Gloucester will kick off a full slate of events on Saturday night. Richard Fries, publisher of Ride Magazine and the world's most excitable announcer, will emcee the party, which starts at 6:30, and will interview several top riders during the evening, including Tim Johnson and Lyne Bessette. Essex County Velo (ECV), the host club of the Gran Prix of Gloucester, will present the New England debut of the cyclo-cross film "puresweethell" by Brian Vernor. The show will start promptly at 8:00 pm. Sunday's racing is highlighted by the ever-popular ECV Kids Race, which will be run promptly at 1:00 pm in the upper infield of the Stage Fort Park course. For more information, look up www.usgpcyclocross.com Nijland abandons due to heart problemsDutch cyclo-crosser Maarten Nijland had to abandon the first round of the World Cup series in Kalmthout due to heart rhythm problems. Halfway through the race, Nijland stopped to see the race doctor, but the first examination did not reveal anything serious. Nijland has suffered similar problems in the past, but may resume training in the coming days according to his doctor.
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