January 15, 2006 — Lyne Bessette earned her second Cyclocross World Cup podium placing 3rd today at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Liévin, France. The Knowlton, Quebec athlete placed third last month in Belgium. Holland’s Daphny Van den Brand won by 12 seconds over Marianne Vos also from Holland, and was 20 seconds ahead of Bessette.

“The first time I got a top three finish I said to myself perhaps its just luck,” said Bessette in a phone interview with Sportcom. “I had a good start and it’s only in the technical sections that the other girls are stronger. I am really pleased with my race today (Sunday).”

“It was cold and very fast,” continued the 30-year-old Bessette, who added that her experience now enables her to adapt more quickly to different cyclo-cross courses. “I was leading at first and then Van den Brand took over in a technical section. Vos and I tried to keep up but finally Vos broke ahead of me in the last turn and I couldn’t stay with her. I have the strength to compete with these girls, but technically I could not have done better than how I did today. My few years of cyclo-cross racing have helped for sure!”

Bessette was even more satisfied with her performance because she hadn’t touched her cyclo-cross bike during the past week as she was at a T-Mobile training camp in Majorca, Spain. “The trip to Majorca fell right in the middle of my schedule,” she said.

The final World Cup takes place at Hoogerheide, Netherlands next weekend on January 22, and after Bessette heads to the World Cyclocross Championships at the end of January where she hopes to medal.

“It is very realistic and I will try to do better. Thanks to my World Cup points I should be at the front of start line for the Worlds, which is my objective right now. Once the race starts I will do my best. I have nothing to lose,” added Bessette.

Editor’s note: Canada’s Stacey Spencer placed 21st and Wendy Simms was 27th at todays UCI Cyclocross World Cup.

Elite Women
1 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) ZZPR.nl 39.59
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) 0.12
3 Lyne Bessette (Can) 0.20
4 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) 1.07
5 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) 1.16
6 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 1.27
7 Annabella Stropparo (Ita) 1.32
8 Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra) 1.55
9 Corinne Sempe (Fra) 2.08
10 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) 2.28
11 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) 2.44
12 Ann Knapp (USA) 2.52
13 Britt Jochems (Ned) 3.10
14 Kathy Ingels (Bel) 3.15
15 Helen Wyman (GBr) 3.26
16 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) 3.26
17 Anja Nobus (Bel) 3.26
18 Barbara Howe (USA) 3.32
19 Susanne Juranek (Ger) 3.35
20 Nicole Kampeter (Ger) 3.54
21 Stacey Spencer (Can) 3.59
22 Daniela Bresciani (Ita) 4.03
23 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) 4.28
24 Christine Vardaros (USA) 4.38
25 Claudia Marsilio (Ita) 4.55
26 Suzie Godart (Lux) 5.08
27 Wendy Simms (Can) 5.12
28 Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) 5.19
29 Veerle Ingels (Bel) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim 5.29
30 Milena Cavani (Ita) 5.35
31 Monica Brunati (Ita) 5.56
32 Nekane Lasa Agirre (Spa) 6.03
33 Marijke De Smedt (Bel) 6.29
34 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) 7.11
35 Barbara Menegon (Ita) 1 lap
36 Katrien Aerts (Bel)
37 Stefanie Gronow (Ger)

DNS Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger)
DNS Anne Kathrin Nitzsche (Ger)
DNS Katleen Vermeiren (Bel)
DNS Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa)