Women's Prestige Cycling Series - NE

USA, October 6, 2004

The Events

March 23 - 28: Redlands Bicycle Classic
June 9 - 13: Nature Valley Grand Prix
July 26 - August 1: The International-Tour De Toona
September 23 - 26: Conyers Dill & Pearman Bermuda GP

Bessette top series final standings

The US Women's Prestige Cycling Series completed its inaugural year at the Bermuda Grand Prix. The Series saw coast-to-coast racing leading up to this off-shore finish. The Series opened at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in California in March, then continued at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota in June and at the Tour de 'Toona / International in Pennsylvania in July.

The Series proved to be very popular with women racers, with record numbers attending each of the Series events. In addition to teams that are well known on the National circuit, Series teams also included regional teams who were taking their racing to a new level and composite teams formed specifically for the Series.

WPCS Individual Standings

Lyne Bessette of Quark Cycling claimed the overall championship of the Series. Although absent from the Bermuda Grand Prix, she had built up an unassailable lead by winning the other three Series events. Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) rode impressively in Bermuda, winning the stage race and moving from 24th to 4th in the Series.

1 Lyne Bessette (Quark Cycling Team)         660
2 Katrina Grove (Equipe Rona)                329
3 Susan Palmer-Komar (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)  286
4 Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)           255
5 Genevieve Jeanson (Equipe Rona)            253
6 Erinne Willock (Equipe Rona)               253
7 Kori Seehafer (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)       213
8 Tina Pic (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)            187
9 Andrea Hannos (Equipe Rona)                185
10 Magali LeFloch (Quark Cycling Team)       176

WPCS Best Young Rider (U26)

Kate Sherwin (Team Kenda Tire) reclaimed the lead in the Best Young Rider competition thanks to a strong 4th place finish in Bermuda. Sherwin held the lead in this competition after the Nature Valley Grand Prix, but then surrendered it to Erinne Willock (Equipe Rona) after the Tour de 'Toona.

1 Katherine Sherwin (Team Kenda Tire)         528
2 Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)            470
3 Erinne Willock (Equipe Rona)                440
4 Genevieve Jeanson (Equipe Rona)             385
5 Candice Blickem (Genesis Scuba/FFCC)        344
6 Stefanie Graeter (Webcor Builders)          268
7 Katherine Lambden (CRCA/Aquafina)           264
8 Audrey Lemieux (Quark Cycling Team)         187
9 Grace Fleury (Genesis Scuba/FFCC)           187
10 Sarah Uhl (Quark Cycling Team)             132

WPCS Sprint Competition

Gina Grain (Victory Brewing) successfully defended her WPCS sprint leader's jersey. Although she had held a commanding lead following the Nature Valley Grand Prix, where she won that race's Salsa Cycles Sprint Competition, she had left herself vulnerable when she missed the Tour de 'Toona. However, she left no doubt about who was the fastest woman in the Women's Prestige Cycling Series when she won the sprint competition at the Bermuda Grand Prix and claimed the Series sprint title.

1 Gina Grain (Victory Brewing)                605
2 Laura Van Gilder (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)     393
3 Andrea Hannos (Equipe Rona)                 363
4 Lyne Bessette (Quark Cycling Team)          307
5 Tina Pic (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)             220
6 Kori Seehafer (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)        165
7 Grace Fleury (Genesis Scuba / FFCC)         158
8 Katrina Grove (Equipe Rona)                 157
9 Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)            143
10 Amy Moore (Quark Cycling Team)             132

WPCS Team Competition

Although Victory Brewing won the team competition at the Bermuda Grand Prix, Equipe Rona claimed the win for the Series, thanks to team wins at the other three Series events. Equipe Rona's impressive margin of victory of over 600 points was the result of strong performances that saw four of their riders finishing in the top ten in the individual competition.

1 Equipe Rona                                1691
2 Genesis Scuba / FFCC                       1055
3 Quark Cycling Team                         1044
4 Victory Brewing                             910
5 Webcor Builders                             462
6 Team Kenda Tire                             352
7 CRCA/Aquafina                                83