June 1, 2002. (Montreal, PQ). Dede Demet-Barry (TalgoAmerica.com) was not supposed to win the Montreal World Cup.

The infamous Mont Royal climb is custom-made for local climbers Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) or Lyne Bessette (Quebec). Riders like Petra Rossner (Saturn) and Mirjam Melchers (Dutch National Team) were supposed to be fighting over the top points for their ongoing World Cup rivalry.
But it didn’t end up being quite the way it was supposed to.

Demet-Barry, who has retired from professional racing and is now concentrating on finishing her degree in Colorado, fooled them all. Before the race, she even admitted she was doing the race “for fun”. Demet-Barry, (wife of USPS rider Michael Barry) has still been steadily training, although her racing schedule has been nowhere near that of two years ago when she raced fulltime last.

The race, as it always is, consisted of a barrage of breakaways and attacks on the twisty, difficult climb. At many points, it seemed that a breakaway with the favourites had formed and that was that. But time and again, the long downhill that follows ended up being the way that breakaway was thwarted.

Demet-Barry herself was dropped a few times from the chase group, but used her incredible power to regain contact. The main group whittled away until on the final laps there were 20 riders who were contesting the finish. Team Rona had been agressively controlling the race, with Amy Jarvis and Manon Jutras constantly at the front keeping the pace hard.

The wind proved to be a factor, and the final race time was almost 15 minutes slower. Perhaps this contributed to climbers like Fabiana Luperini (Italy), or Pia Sundstedt (Team Sponsor Service) not being able to capitalize on the climb as they had in years before: the climb itself was so exposed that riders dare not go to the front too much for fear of losing too much energy.

The final lap saw Anna Millward (Saturn) and Demet-Barry sneak away on a two-pronged attack. As the other favourites watched each other, the duo established a minute gap, which would prove more than enough. The last climb saw Demet-Barry drop Millward and cruise to an impressive solo win. Jeanson finished 3rd, and Bessette finished 6th.

Demet-Barry, riding a Mariposa bicycle built by her father-in-law Mike Barry Sr., had an impressive day for a “weekend warrior”!

Final Results

Montreal 2002 World Cup – June 1, 2002

(Courtesy of Organizer)

1. Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) TalgoAmerica.com 2.58.16 (33.12 km/h)

2. Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn 0.39

3. Geneviève Jeanson (Can) RONA 1.02

4. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Dutch National team 1.04

5. Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn

6. Lyne Bessette (Can) Sélection Provinciale du Québec 1.06

7. Priska Doppmann (Swi) OPUS Bike 1.07

8. Sara Symington (GBr) Great Britain National Team 1.11

9. Aline Camboulives (Fra) Equipe Nationale de France 1.13

10. Amber Neben (USA) Team T-Mobile

….

20. Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) TalgoAmerica.com 1.47

24. Nicole Demars (Can) Sélection Provinciale du Québec 1.58

36. Erinne Willock (Can) Verizon Wireless Cycling Club 6.11

37. Sophie St-Jacques (Can) Trek Plus Volkswagen

38. Manon Jutras (Can) RONA

40. Amy Jarvis (Can) RONA 7.51

47. Giselle Trahan (Can) Fulton Flyers Cycling Club 11.20

52. Isabelle Gagnon (Can) Sélection Provinciale du Québec 11.30

53. Katy St Laurent (Can) Sélection Provinciale du Québec 11.36

61. Diana Bladon (Can) OPUS Bike 14.39