October 7, 2004 (Minneapolis) – The 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. 660 – Lyne Bessette, Quark Cycling Team
2. 329 – Katrina Grove, Equipe Rona
3. 286 – Susan Palmer-Komar, Genesis Scuba / FFCC
4. 255 – Lauren Franges, Victory Brewing
5. 253 – Genevieve Jeanson, Equipe Rona
6. 253 – Erinne Willock, Equipe Rona
7. 213 – Kori Seehafer, Genesis Scuba / FFCC
8. 187 – Tina Pic, Genesis Scuba / FFCC
9. 185 – Andrea Hannos, Equipe Rona
10. 176 – Magali LeFloch, Quark Cycling Team

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

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

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