May 21, 2006 – For personal reasons Lyne Bessette (T-Mobile) left the Tour de l”šAude last Thursday – the Canadian rider has since returned to her home in Knowlton, Quebec. After finishing 79th in the lead pack in Stage 7a Thursday morning, Bessette did not start Stage 7b that same afternoon.

In a report filed that day Sportcom indicated that the reasons Bessette abandoned were unknown. In an interview with Sportcom on Saturday afternoon, Bessette wanted to reassure her fans, “I’d like to let everyone know that I am ok, that I have returned home safely and there is nothing to worry about.”

Bessette also wanted to add that she will “play it by ear””š in terms of her race schedule, including the upcoming Montreal Women’s Road World Cup on Mont Royal on Saturday May 27.